Are you wearing your mask with blue side outwards? Here's the correct way

Are you wearing your disposable mask the correct way? Because a lot of misinformation has been doing the rounds on social media about the right way to wear disposable or medical face masks. While experts have said that the claims are false, the post has, however, been shared hundreds of times by users.

According to the ‘fake’ post, the coloured side of the mask should be worn on the outside when one is sick and the white side should be on the outside when one is healthy. The post claims it to be the ‘correct way’ to wear a disposable mask.

Health experts have time an again stressed that the only correct way to wear a disposable mask is with the coloured (waterproof) side visible and white side (the softer side with the absorbent filter) turned towards the wearer's face.

Dr. Seto Wing Hong, the co-director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology and Control and a professor at the University of Hong Kong, explains that the coloured part is worn on the outside because it is waterproof and prevents moisture from entering. The white side is worn on the inside because it is absorbent and prevents germs from being released to the atmosphere.

“You got to wear it like this; the blue on the outside, the white on the inside,” Dr. Seto said.

How to wear a disposable/surgical mask:

> Disinfect hands before touching the mask.

> The absorbent side should be facing inwards.

> The metallic strip should be at the top of the mask over nose bridge.

> Place the elastic bands around your ears.

> Ensure the mask fully covers your mouth, nose, and chin.

> Do not touch the front of the mask once you put it on. If you do, disinfect or wash your hands afterwards.

> Discard masks immediately after use, disposable or medical masks are for single use only.

• Americas