The World Health Organization updated their guidelines last Friday for wearing masks and encourages the general public to wear one in areas where there continues to be intense spread of the novel coronavirus.
Since surgical masks and N95 masks are specially reserved for medical health workers and caregivers while they are in their shift in clinical areas, people may use fabric masks, either homemade or store-bought. In a way, they help prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus, particularly in settings where physical distancing is difficult, WHO recommends.
CNN reports that these updated recommendations are a shift from the previous advice from WHO on masks, which was not to wear them if a person is not sick or not caring for a sick person, to reserve masks for health care workers.
Furthermore, people aged 60 years and above, or those with underlying conditions who live in areas with community transmission, are also advised to wear a medical mask in situations where physical distancing is not possible, WHO chief said.
Tedros has also added to the new guidelines the composition of fabric masks, based on academic research requested by the UN health agency.
Three Layers of Fabric Masks
According to Science Alert, WHO's revised guidance recommends that the type of fabric masks that are effective should have three layers. First, an inner layer that absorbs, then a middle layer which will act as a filter, and an outer layer made from non-absorbent material such as polyester.
Maria D. Van Kerkhove, an epidemiologist and WHO technical lad on COVID-19, said that those layers in that order could "provide a mechanistic barrier." She emphasized that it is based on novel research commissioned by WHO.
"What we are trying to do with the guidance that we're putting out is to provide some parameters on, if you're going to use a fabric mask, here are the best fabrics that you can use based on the evidence that we have," Van Kerkhove said.
Moreover, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director-general, said that fabric mass should be regularly cleaned and worn correctly since contaminated hands can infect a person while adjusting their masks or frequently touching it to put on or off.
WHO: Masks Alone Cannot Save Lives
The only constant in WHO's new guideline is their advice that people who are sick with COVID-19 should remain at home, consult with their healthcare providers, and seek care. Of course, self-quarantine is still a must, and also their immediate contacts.
As usual, those who care for a sick person should wear a medical mask while in the same room as the infected person. Likewise, healthcare workers should wear medical masks and other PPE when working with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 case.
The health agency continues to emphasize that masks alone will not defeat the coronavirus and may lead to a false sense of security, leading people to slack on other essential prevention measures. Face masks are not a replacement for physical distancing, hand hygiene, and other public health measures, Tedros said.
They are only a part of a comprehensive approach in fighting the virus, but the cornerstone in every country must be to find, isolate, test, and care for every case, and to trace and quarantine every contact. In that way, positive cases will be easily identified.
