WHO advises wider use of masks in virus hotspots

WHO has previously only recommended that health care workers, those sickened by COVID-19 and their caregivers wear masks. Tedros emphasized the importance of hand-washing, social distancing and other measures.

Geneva:The World Health Organisation is changing its recommendations for the use of masks during the coronavirus pandemic and is now recommending that in areas where there is a widespread transmission, people should wear masks when social distancing is not possible, such as on public transport and in shops.

In a press briefing on Friday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said people over age 60 or those with underlying medical conditions should wear a medical mask in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.

WHO has previously only recommended that health care workers, those sickened by COVID-19 and their caregivers wear masks.

Tedros emphasized that masks on their own will not protect you from COVID-19 and emphasized the importance of hand-washing, social distancing and other measures.

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He added that health workers in areas with widespread transmission should now wear medical masks in all areas of health facilities and not just those with confirmed COVID-19 patients, saying that doctors working in cardiology or other wards, for example, should continue to wear a medical mask even if there are no known coronavirus patients.

(AP)