After Rwanda confirmed her first Covid-19 case in mid-March, there was nothing like mandatory wearing of face masks.

The Ministry of Health had, by then, called on citizens to leave masks for Covid-19 patients as well as health practitioners directly interacting with these patients.

A month later, guided by new directives from the World Health Organization, the government resolved that face masks in public were to be mandatory to all citizens.

With the country mandating face coverings to prevent the spread of Covid-19, and more research emerging that supports wearing them, masks have become an essential commodity.

Now, masks of all shapes and styles, as well as other types of reusable coverings, can be easily purchased local stores and vending outlets nationwide.

But the increased dependence on the coverings has sparked countless concerns. Among them is, how to ensure proper hygiene.

Medical experts give their recommendations on what the general public should do to prevent their masks from causing other complications. 

"If you’re reusing a mask over and over again without caring for it in between, they can become stinky as they have been used for a long time,” says Prince Rwagasore, a doctor at Nyamata District Hospital.

"Treat your mask like your underwear,” Rwagasore says. "You actually need to change or wash it every day.”

He adds: "Thinking about the moisture and the bacteria that’s building up in that mask itself as you keep reusing it, the chances of a bad smell are possible.”

"In a perfect world and not our pandemic-stricken reality that has caused shortages of personal protective equipment, face coverings are designed to be single-use, hence, they should also be swapped out daily after use,” says Vincent Mutabazi, an epidemiologist.

"You wear a mask all day, of course there will be a change, because they have been in use,” Mutabazi says. "You’re talking, your saliva has been going into the mask, and your sweat from your face has been going into the mask.”

So, is a stinky mask okay? Mutabazi says, "I get this question a lot from my patients, and it’s definitely an important one, but my response is, how long have you been using the face mask?”

The reason he asks this is because an "off” smell is a tell-tale sign that it’s time to toss a disposable mask, or wash a reusable one.

"When you’re using a surgical mask, you’re breathing on it and your respiratory particles land on the mask. The bacteria in those particles can then grow and cause an odour you find distasteful,” Mutabazi explains.

Alphonsine Dusabe, a nurse at Kanombe Military Hospital, says that the use of the mask for a prolonged period is the cause of the bad smell.

"So basically, odour is likely normal, but it may be a sign that it’s time to retire a mask, or give it a good wash,” she notes.

Dusabe recommends oral hygiene because some bacteria can become embedded in the fabric, which is a source of bad smell. She also advises people to hydrate their mouths as many times as possible to avoid the build-up of the bacteria.