March 15, 2020 | By Angela Betsaida B. Laguipo, BSN | News-medical |
“…not a good idea for the public to wear facemasks as the virus can get trapped in the material and causes infection when the wearer breathes in.”
“Panic buying and the hoarding of face masks to protect from the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may not be a good idea, says a health expert. It puts you at an increased risk of contracting the virus.
Dr. Jenny Harries, England’s deputy chief medical officer, has warned that it was not a good idea for the public to wear facemasks as the virus can get trapped in the material and causes infection when the wearer breathes in.
For the public, they should not wear facemasks unless they are sick, and if a healthcare worker advised them.
“For the average member of the public walking down a street, it is not a good idea,” Dr. Harries said.
“What tends to happen is people will have one mask. They won’t wear it all the time, they will take it off when they get home, they will put it down on a surface they haven’t cleaned,” she added.
Further, she added that behavioral issues could adversely put themselves at more risk of getting the infection. For instance, people go out and don’t wash their hands, they touch parts of the mask or their face, and they get infected.”
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