This archive report was first published on 6 June 2020.
Geneva, June 5, 2020 - The World Health Organization (WHO) has updated its guidance on face masks in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to the WHO, face masks should be worn in areas where the virus is widespread and physical distancing is difficult.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus emphasized that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks in such situations.
He added that people aged 60 years or over, or those with underlying conditions, should wear a medical mask in situations where physical distancing is not possible.
However, the WHO stressed that facemasks alone will not protect individuals from COVID-19 and that people suffering from the virus should not be out in public if they can avoid it.
Healthcare workers are advised to wear medical masks plus protective equipment when dealing with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.
Additionally, the WHO recommends that all people working in clinical sections of a health facility should wear medical masks in areas with widespread virus transmission.
The organization also issued new guidance on the composition of non-medical fabric masks for the general public, advising that they should consist of at least three layers of different material.
WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan noted that wearing a fabric mask is primarily about preventing the wearer from possibly infecting others, rather than self-protection.
