PSA in case anybody is misled, news outlets have been reporting that the WHO now recommends that people use masks:
examples:
CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/05/health/face-mask-coronavirus-who-recommendations-bn/index.html
BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52945210
But no, the WHO is *not* recommending that everyone wear a mask. Posting here just in case people have to put up with masktards telling them to dress like a welder:
The actual source at
www.who.int
the guidance on when to use masks is here (pdf, you have to scroll down the page because it's not easy to find):
and what they actually write is this (see page 6 second column):
"Many countries have recommended the use of fabric masks/face coverings for the general public. At the present time, the widespread use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not yet supported by high quality or direct scientific evidence and there are potential benefits and harms to consider (see below). However, taking into account the available studies evaluating pre- and asymptomatic transmission, a growing compendium of observational evidence on the use of masks by the general public in several countries, individual values and preferences, as well as the difficulty of physical distancing in many contexts, WHO has updated its guidance to advise that to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear masks in specific situations and settings as part of a comprehensive approach to suppress SARS-CoV-2 transmission (Table 2). "
News outlets are parroting just this part:
"WHO has updated its guidance to advise that to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear masks"
you can see how they are distorting things by publishing just a part of the paragraph. On page 7 you will find the ill-effects of using masks:
Potential harms/disadvantages
The likely disadvantages of the use of mask by healthy people in the general public include:
• potential increased risk of self-contamination due to the manipulation of a face mask and subsequently touching eyes with contaminated hands;(48, 49)
• potential self-contamination that can occur if nonmedical masks are not changed when wet or soiled. This can create favourable conditions for microorganism to amplify;
• potential headache and/or breathing difficulties, depending on type of mask used;
• potential development of facial skin lesions, irritant dermatitis or worsening acne, when used frequently for long hours;(50)
• difficulty with communicating clearly;
• potential discomfort;(41, 51)
• a false sense of security, leading to potentially lower adherence to other critical preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene;
• poor compliance with mask wearing, in particular by young children;
• waste management issues; improper mask disposal leading to increased litter in public places, risk of contamination to street cleaners and environment hazard;
• difficulty communicating for deaf persons who rely on lip reading;
• disadvantages for or difficulty wearing them, especially for children, developmentally challenged persons, those with mental illness, elderly persons with cognitive impairment, those with asthma or chronic respiratory or breathing problems, those who have had facial trauma or recent oral maxillofacial surgery, and those living in hot and humid environments.
And finally you see that one of the benefits is:
"making people feel they can play a role in contributing to stopping spread of the virus; "
So there you go, even the WHO says they make people feel good about the thing
but check pages 6 and 7 of the pdf, it's the juicy part
examples:
CNN: https://edition.cnn.com/2020/06/05/health/face-mask-coronavirus-who-recommendations-bn/index.html
BBC: https://www.bbc.com/news/health-52945210
But no, the WHO is *not* recommending that everyone wear a mask. Posting here just in case people have to put up with masktards telling them to dress like a welder:
The actual source at
When and how to use masks
WHO's guidance and advice on the use of masks to protect against and limit the spread of COVID-19.
the guidance on when to use masks is here (pdf, you have to scroll down the page because it's not easy to find):
and what they actually write is this (see page 6 second column):
"Many countries have recommended the use of fabric masks/face coverings for the general public. At the present time, the widespread use of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not yet supported by high quality or direct scientific evidence and there are potential benefits and harms to consider (see below). However, taking into account the available studies evaluating pre- and asymptomatic transmission, a growing compendium of observational evidence on the use of masks by the general public in several countries, individual values and preferences, as well as the difficulty of physical distancing in many contexts, WHO has updated its guidance to advise that to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear masks in specific situations and settings as part of a comprehensive approach to suppress SARS-CoV-2 transmission (Table 2). "
News outlets are parroting just this part:
"WHO has updated its guidance to advise that to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear masks"
you can see how they are distorting things by publishing just a part of the paragraph. On page 7 you will find the ill-effects of using masks:
Potential harms/disadvantages
The likely disadvantages of the use of mask by healthy people in the general public include:
• potential increased risk of self-contamination due to the manipulation of a face mask and subsequently touching eyes with contaminated hands;(48, 49)
• potential self-contamination that can occur if nonmedical masks are not changed when wet or soiled. This can create favourable conditions for microorganism to amplify;
• potential headache and/or breathing difficulties, depending on type of mask used;
• potential development of facial skin lesions, irritant dermatitis or worsening acne, when used frequently for long hours;(50)
• difficulty with communicating clearly;
• potential discomfort;(41, 51)
• a false sense of security, leading to potentially lower adherence to other critical preventive measures such as physical distancing and hand hygiene;
• poor compliance with mask wearing, in particular by young children;
• waste management issues; improper mask disposal leading to increased litter in public places, risk of contamination to street cleaners and environment hazard;
• difficulty communicating for deaf persons who rely on lip reading;
• disadvantages for or difficulty wearing them, especially for children, developmentally challenged persons, those with mental illness, elderly persons with cognitive impairment, those with asthma or chronic respiratory or breathing problems, those who have had facial trauma or recent oral maxillofacial surgery, and those living in hot and humid environments.
And finally you see that one of the benefits is:
"making people feel they can play a role in contributing to stopping spread of the virus; "
So there you go, even the WHO says they make people feel good about the thing
but check pages 6 and 7 of the pdf, it's the juicy part
