WHO advises wider use of masks in virus hotspots

June 05, 2020 22:25

The World Health Organisation is changing its recommendations for the use of masks during the coronavirus pandemic and is now recommending that in areas where there is widespread transmission, people should wear masks when social distancing is not possible, such as on public transport and in shops.

In a press briefing on Friday, WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also said people over age 60 or those with underlying medical conditions should wear a medical mask in situations where social distancing cannot be maintained.

WHO has previously only recommended that health care workers, those sickened by COVID-19 and their care givers wear masks.

Tedros emphasised that masks on their own will not protect you from COVID-19 and emphasised the importance of hand-washing, social distancing and other measures.

He added that health workers in areas with widespread transmission should now wear medical masks in all areas of health facilities and not just those with confirmed COVID-19 patients, saying that doctors working in cardiology or other wards, for example, should continue to wear a medical mask even if there are no known coronavirus patients.

« Back to LIVE

TOP STORIES

Sanju Era Begins!

Scenes from the RR-SRH game...

Why Rahul Gandhi opts for Rae Bareli instead of Amethi

Amid criticism that the Congress had given a walkout to Irani in Amethi, sources said, the party in its wisdom believed that Rae Bareli's historical, emotional and electoral importance for the Gandhi family was higher than that of Amethi.

'India Offers Once In A Lifetime Opportunity To Create Wealth'

'We see mid-and small-caps as a real pot of gold.' 'From a 10-15 years perspective, mid-and small-cap are likely to outperform the larger index, as they have done in the past.'

'When Bhuvi came to bowl the final over...'

Following his side's one-run win over Rajasthan Royals, Sunrisers Hyderabad all-rounder Nitish Kumar Reddy said that when he realised that Bhuvneshwar Kumar was defending 13 runs in the final over, he got the confidence that the veteran...

The Broken News 2 Review: Worth A Watch

The Broken News 2 is worth watching because of Jaideep and Shriya's fabulous acting, recommends Namrata Thakker.