Frequency of Face and Mask Contacts Before and After Quarantine During COVID-19 Pandemics

Abstract

BackgroundOn March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) decreed this disease as a pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2, with more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries and 4,291 deaths at that time [1]. Some respiratory infections are partly the product of contacts of the hands with entry ports like the mouth, nose, and eyes. This contact is a relevant component in the chain of transmission in diseases such as rhinovirus and influenza [2,3]. The WHO´s guidelines identify as the main source of the COVID-19 contagion inhaling the residual droplets generated by coughing or sneezing of people infected with respiratory symptoms [4]. Additionally, transmission can be caused by direct contact with infected people or with contaminated surfaces. As a secondary source, the generation of aerosols is a critical risk factor [5], especially in therapeutic clinical procedures such as endotracheal intubation, bronchoscopy, among others [4]. Therefore, the interventions promoted during the pandemic have been mainly handwashing,