Coronavirus: WHO advises to wear masks in public areas

The World Health Organization (WHO) has changed its advice on face masks, saying they should be worn in public where social distancing is not possible to help stop the spread of coronavirus.

The global body said new information showed they could provide "a barrier for potentially infectious droplets".

Some countries already recommend or mandate face coverings in public.

The WHO had previously argued there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks.

However, WHO director-general Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said on Friday that "in light of evolving evidence, the WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments".

What is the WHO's advice?
The organisation said its new guidance had been prompted by studies over recent weeks.

Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's technical lead expert on Covid-19, told Reuters news agency the recommendation was for people to wear a "fabric mask - that is, a non-medical mask".

Fabric masks should consist of "at least three layers of different material" in order to be effective, the WHO says.

However, those aged over-60 and with underlying health risks should wear medical masks in areas where there is community transmission.

At the same time, the WHO stressed that face masks were just one of a range of tools that could be used to reduce the risk of transmission - and that they should not give people a false sense of protection.

"Masks on their own will not protect you from Covid-19," Dr Tedros said.

Big shift in guidance
This is a big shift in the WHO's guidance on when the public should cover their faces. For months, the organisation's experts stuck to the line that masks would encourage a false sense of security and would deprive medical professionals of badly needed protective equipment.

Those arguments have not gone away but at the same time the WHO acknowledges that new evidence has emerged on the risks of transmission.

It points to recent research that people can be highly infectious in the few days before they show symptoms and that some people catch the virus but never show symptoms at all, as I reported last weekend.

So where distancing is not possible, such as on public transport and in locations as varied as shops and refugee camps, it is suggested that faces are covered with homemade masks to avoid passing on the infection.

Over 60s with underlying health conditions should go further, the WHO said, and wear medical-grade masks to give themselves better protection.

https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52945210?SThisFB

This their guidance is rather coming late after many months of COVID-19 pandemic.

Am just here to read comments

I already lost respect for WHO. They seem to be another scam just like the federal government of Naija. The use of fave mask has declined in so many states in Nigeria.

The WHO now trying to stay relevant after countries around the world seem to have moved ahead by taken their destinies in their own hands. Come to think of it, why three-ply masks? Even a single-ply mask reduces your ability to breathe well.

Ok..we await the Nigeria's guidelines too of how to wear facemask in order to avoid being infected with Nigeria's version of Coro..coro dey, e no dey ..make we all Sha stay safe jare

With the advent of the COVID-19 virus, so many guidelines and directives have emanated from the World Health Organization and other medical bodies.

I have tried to keep up with most of these directives, like maintaining physical distancing by a distance of at least 2 metres; regular handwashing with soap under running water; use of hand sanitizer, wearing a mask before leaving my home etc. but the one which says "Don't touch your face" has become my albatross.

It is said that you can contract coronavirus by touching almost anything in a public space and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose, but I can't remember how many times I have touched my face today or my eyes, not to talk of touching or adjusting the mask while it is on, despite my best efforts.

It is also estimated that on average, humans touch their face 23 times per hour. These new guidelines do not address this issue of what to do to avoid touching your face.

Abeg, I cannot come and go and kee myself jare!

For what?

Something whose existence in Nigeria is still a subject of cynicism and debate?

Some folks are wearing it while driving just alone inside the car.

I stopped taking WHO seriously a long time ago coz Its just an organization used by rich evil people to achieve their evil plans

But God pass them

Good one

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yeye, They played little role in fighting this pandemic, they just sit their ass and wait for funds.
the same WHO said "facemask is not a necessity for healthy persons"

K

Who is WHO?


.
The have started again, many countries have lost respect for them.


Is like this tenure is the worst ever.



From Buhari to trump to this who chairman

WHO should stfu,they are deceitful and they have different and bad motive about the disease and they actually working together with the Chinese government.

Abeg make WHO park well jhorr.

Something we Don dey wear since.

Irresponsible organization feeding us obsolete info.

Why is everybody barking?




Is it one of the cure to covid19

Somebody will take advantage of this. Please take her number down. Change your approach.

WHO wants to buy this space?


It is for sale

Covid19 in Nigeria, if you believe it is

i. Scamdemic/plandemic, click "like"

ii. Pandemic and real, click "share"

iii. Confusing, quote me and state why.

WHO is confused











Pun intended

Ok

I thought is only Nigeria that are full of corrupt leaders but now W. H. O has joined and at the same time confuse.


They ask us to cover nose and mouth while the virus can penetrate through eyes or is eyes not sensitive to get infected abi which way nah even me I'm confuse on this coro palava.

Am more sound than WHO.

Took them months to know what have caused many to abuse to some of us.

There is no big science with knowing what masks can do or not and that it should be worn always when in public.

I know say we go soon dey pay tax on top face mask.

Buhari Jubril fear ur oldage ooo if u no fit fear God