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We are used to it by now. If we happen to go out without, for an oversight, we immediately go home for wear the mask, a real physical support to reduce the risks of transmission of the Sars-CoV-2 virus. But if outdoors and in public environments there is the habit of wearing these protective devices with great care, carefully covering the mouth and nose, sometimes when we are at home, perhaps with friends or relatives who are not really close, it can exist the tendency to let our guard down. In short: there is a risk of being less prudent.
To report this, also indicating this inexplicable lack of attention at home, is a research that recently appeared on Jama Network Open.
The three weapons not to forget
We were taught that there are basically three different means of limiting the dangers of the Sars-CoV-2 virus spreading among people.
In addition to spacing, which reasonably keeps us “away” from each other, we must always remember careful hand hygiene which must be washed carefully several times a day, in addition of course to the use of masks. Well, on this front, according to the study of the University of Michigan on about 6000 subjects, those who live overseas would not be exactly “blameless”. And we must think that, probably, something similar happens to us too, with inexplicable loss of attention in domestic environments.
When it comes to wearing the mask, in fact, we tend to make differences between the outside, such as supermarket and bar, and visits from friends and relatives. Even at an older age, even if we know that the risks are greater. In fact, the study shows that even among the over-70s, despite knowing the danger, there is a tendency to pay the utmost attention to the supermarket but tend to let one’s guard down when you are with friends, due to the erroneous perception that in that area the risks would be less.
In particular, re-reading the survey, it turns out that in the period preceding the availability of vaccines, when the survey was conducted, more or less four out of ten people visited a friend or hosted one. Above all, the study shows that even in the presence of overweight, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or other elements that could raise the risk of developing severe forms of Covid-19, obviously aged, only a little more than one in ten people has correctly worn the mask.
On the other hand, there was a pinch of attention on the distancing front: almost two out of three people said they respected the distance of two meters from the interlocutor.
How come the guard is let down?
Between saying and doing there is the sea, says an old proverb that is always tremendously current. Unfortunately, even with the best prospects and declaring to be careful, we tend to forget the rules of prevention when we are with relatives and friends.
The reasons? Probably from the psychological point of view we tend to think that the risks decrease, given the familiarity with people. But is not so. This attitude is contraindicated for health. to counter the virus, masks, distance and hygiene are the three most effective weapons we have. And we must never forget that.
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