WHO’s Rigid Mask Stance Contrasts With Countries’ Advice
WHO’s Rigid Mask Stance Contrasts With Countries’ Advice
(Bloomberg) --
Global health officials still insist that medical masks should be reserved for health-care workers, even as an increasing number of governments recommend the general public wear them to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
“There is currently no evidence that wearing a mask, whether medical or other types, by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including Covid-19,” a report released late Monday by the World Health Organization said.
Nevertheless, countries around the world are advising people to wear masks. Asian governments recommend them in crowded places, while eastern European countries have mandated wearing them in public. The U.S. last week recommended Americans wear nonmedical cloth masks in public, whether they’re infected or not.
Social media is filling up with individuals selling homemade masks out of colorful fabric, as well as tutorials for do-it-yourself sewing projects and folding bandannas into masks.
The WHO said the use of medical masks in the community may create a false sense of security, leading people to neglect other measures like hand hygiene and physical distancing. Wider use also risks reducing the supply for doctors, nurses and other personnel who may see infected patients daily and are at high risk of contracting coronavirus and other illnesses.
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