The World Health Organization has warned people not to wear a face mask unless they are sick or caring for a sick person.
This was made known by Ryan Mike, the executive director of WHO health emergencies program, while speaking at a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland.
“There is no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit. In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly,” Dr. Mike Ryan said.
“There also is the issue that we have a massive global shortage,” Ryan said about masks and other medical supplies.
“Right now the people most at risk from this virus are frontline health workers who are exposed to the virus every second of every day. The thought of them not having masks is horrific.”
An infectious disease epidemiologist with the WHO, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, also said it is important “we prioritize the use of masks for those who need it most,”
“In the community, we do not recommend the use of wearing masks unless you yourself are sick and as a measure to prevent onward spread from you if you are ill,” Van Kerkhove said.
“The masks that we recommend are for people who are at home and who are sick and for those individuals who are caring for those people who are home that are sick,” she said.