Amid the corona virus crisis, surgical mask and other personal protective equipment (PPE) run short in their supplies. As the public desperately seeking to acquire for their own personal protection against the disease.
This is even the health authorities continuously reminding the public that not everyone is required to wear a medical or surgical mask.
Earlier today, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, World Health Organization (WHO) Director General, published on his twitter account, seeking everyone’s help to protect health workers from corona virus or popularly known as #COVID19.
We can help the health workers – by making these personal protective equipment (PPE) including surgical mask available for them. Do not wear a surgical mask if you are well. Only wear a surgical mask if you are sick or if you are caring for someone who is sick.
In his post, Dr Ghebreyesus, uploaded a video clip of another WHO COVID-19 front-liner, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, from Emerging Diseases and Zoonoses Unit discussing about the shortage of surgical mask for the health workers.
And here is one more tip on how you can help us protect #healthworkers from #COVID19 – only wear a mask if you are sick or if you are caring for someone who is sick. Watch this great explanation by Dr @mvankerkhove, @WHO #coronavirus expert. pic.twitter.com/MS7VZT07Qp
— Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus (@DrTedros) March 22, 2020
In the video, Dr Kerkhove said, “There is a very serious discussion about the use of medical and surgical masks.”
“We need to ensure that we prioritize the use of these masks for our front-line workers. And so we plead with you, if you do not need to wear masks at home, as an individual in the community, don’t wear a mask.”
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She also warns the public not to hoard the supply of surgical masks. “Don’t hoard those masks. Make sure that those masks are available to the front-line workers. Because they are making very difficult decisions about extended use or potential reuse. And we don’t want to put our healthcare workers in any further danger.”
She also added that, “If you are not caring for a sick person at home then you don’t need to be wearing a masks. So again, please prioritize the use of these masks for our front-line workers,” said Dr Kerkhove while pleading to the people of the world.
Likewise, Singapore Health Minister Gan Kim Yong warns that wearing a face mask could only give us a false sense of security. Why? Because we are more likely to touch our faces when we constantly adjust our face mask, giving higher possibility that the virus reach our mouth and nose.
Read the full story in this article: Corona Virus: Wearing face mask gives false sense of protection.
