Why in news?
World Health Organisation’s (WHO) revised guidelines advises that the facemasks should be worn in public to stop the spread of COVID-19.
What are the previous guidelines?
- So far, the WHO had maintained that there was not enough evidence to suggest that healthy individuals should wear masks.
- It had also encouraged the use of medical facemasks only by those who were sick or caring for the sick.
What are the new WHO guidelines?
- WHO has updated its guidance keeping in mind evolving evidence.
- It has developed this guidance through a review of all available evidence, and extensive consultation with experts and civil society groups.
- In the revised guidelines, the WHO suggests that everyone should wear fabric masks (non-medical) in public.
- Fabric masks should contain at least three layers of different materials.
- On the other hand, any person showing the Covid-19 symptoms should wear a medical mask apart from self-isolating and seeking medical advice as soon as they feel unwell.
- It has advised governments to encourage the public to wear masks where there is a widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult.
- Further, in areas with widespread transmission, WHO advises medical masks for all people working in clinical areas of a health facility and not just workers dealing with patients with COVID-19.
Are there any disadvantages of encouraging the public to wear masks?
- The WHO mentions some potential harms and disadvantages of the use of facemasks by healthy people in the general public.
- There is an increased risk of self-contamination due to manipulation of a facemask.
- There is a possibility of potential self-contamination if non-medical masks are not changed when soiled or wet.
- There may be potential headache or breathing difficulties.
- Using mask may give a false sense of security, leading to lower adherence to other critical preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene.
What are the facemask guidelines around the world?
- India: The Centre is allowing re-opening of malls, hotels, restaurants and places of worship from June 8.
- So, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) for these to contain the spread of the Covid-19.
- As per these guidelines, wearing masks is compulsory for those entering religious places, restaurants, offices and shopping malls.
- US: The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) maintains that everyone should wear a cloth face cover when they go out in public but not use face masks meant for healthcare workers.
- Spain: Spain has made wearing masks compulsory both indoors and in public spaces wherever social distancing is not possible.
- Children below the age of six years and those having respiratory illness are exempt from this rule.
- Singapore: The government recommends that masks should be worn whenever people step outside their homes, when they use public transport or hire private cars, walk to or in markets.
- Essential workers should wear masks when they are at their workplaces.
- Masks should only be removed during strenuous exercise outdoors such as running, but must be put back on once the exercise is over.
- Anyone caught without a mask will be issued fines of $300 and repeat offenders are liable to pay higher fines or face prosecution.
What does the evidence say?
- The dominant scientific opinion now says that even a simple home-made masks can offer a great degree of protection against Covid-19.
- A study pointed out that the use of home-made masks was adequate to prevent community transmission of the disease.
- Even so, the lead author of this study maintains that wearing masks should not lead people to ignore physical distancing rules.
- In its new guidelines, the WHO has said that masks can be used either
- For protection of healthy persons (worn to protect oneself when in contact with an infected individual) or
- For source control (worn by an infected individual to prevent onward transmission)
Source: The Indian Express
