On Monday, the World Health Organization (WHO) officials suggest people not to wear masks if they are not sick of coronavirus or not caring for someone who is suffering from the virus. The executive director of the WHO health emergency program, Dr. Mike Ryan, expresses that there is no proper evidence to suggest people wear face masks gives them protection from the virus. Actually, there is some indication to recommend the opposite in the improper use of wearing a mask properly or adjusting it appropriately, he said at a media briefing in Switzerland.
Furthermore, while giving his comments about the mask and other medical supplies, he says that the world is also facing the issue of their worldwide shortage. At present, people working at the health departments are on the front-line of high risk for infecting from the virus. For them, working without a mask is a horrifying thought. An infectious disease epidemiologist at WHO, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, says at the media briefing on Monday that to prioritize the use of a mask for frontline people such as health care workers is very important.
Stop Wearing Masks if you’re Not Sick, WHO says
World Health Organization officials Monday said they still recommend people not wear face masks unless they are sick with Covid-19 or caring for someone who is sick.#coronaviruskenya #AskVirgil pic.twitter.com/f5ujLtoT5O— Wish Fm (@Wishfmradio) March 31, 2020
Shortage of Medical Supplies
Van Kerkhove adds that they do not suggest wearing face masks to the people unless they are sick from the virus, and as a precautionary measure, they wear a mask to stop further spread of the virus. They only recommend masks to those people who are at home and are ill and for those people who are caring for the virus-sick individuals at home. Last week, the officials of WHO warn all countries during a media briefing that internationally there is too much deficiency of medical supplies, including personal protective gear for doctors.
Last week, Van Kerkhove said everyone needs to be very clear. In fact, the whole world is facing a PPE shortage at a significant level for frontline medical workers – including face masks, gloves, face shields, and gowns. Protecting health care workers is the top priority of the World Health Organization.
