Sanjay Kumar Dabhi* and Indrawati Rao
Despite overwhelming evidence that face masks effectively reduce the spread of the novel corona virus, some people still refuse to wear masks.1 In India, where
mask-wearing last month became legally mandatory on public transport and in shops, As the number of corona virus cases rises in the country, many states have made
compulsory wearing a mask while going out in curb of corona virus infecrion.2 they had read false claims on social media that face masks can lower blood oxygen levels
and even cause brain damage. In reality, wearing a face mask helps prevent the spread of the novel corona virus still, some people refuse to wear masks, falsely claiming
that the cloth shield causes their oxygen (SPO2) levels to drop.
Objectives: to assess whether the statement “Does Wearing a Mask Causes Oxygen Levels (SPO2) to Drop- “A Myth or Reality”
Methods & Materials: The present observation study was conducted between the period from June-2020 to December-2020 among 70 health care providers who
were working at Different departments of New Civil Hospital, Surat, Gujarat, India. Samples were selected by Simple Random Methods with Lottery method from
Civil Hospital Surat. A standard SPO2 device was used for data collection. SPO2 levels measured thrice of each health care worker with interval between 20
minutes of each reading. First reading of SPO2 level were measured without mask, second level were measured with wearing simple cloth mask and last third
level were measured with N-95 mask. All the recorded data were entered in master table. Analysis was done using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences
(SPSS version-19).
Results: There were no any significant differences between the SPO2 levels to drop. So its gives us clear indication that wearing a mask doesn’t interfere with our Oxygen
level. The person who gives excuse or refuse to wear it and gives a reason about oxygen level to drop. It’s really a myth but not reality.
Conclusion: People of all age must wears mask in public settings and when around people who don’t live in their household. When you wear a mask, you protect others
as well as yourself.
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