With input from Dr Monica Vasudev

1188: WHO on Masks for Public

1. WHO has tightened guidelines on wearing face masks.
2. The agency has recommended that where COVID-19 is spreading, masks must be worn by all in healthcare facilities and for all interactions in poorly-ventilated indoor spaces.
3. In June, the WHO had called on governments to ask everyone to wear fabric masks in indoor and outdoor public areas where there was a risk of transmission of the virus.
4. The WHO advised that where the epidemic was spreading, all people including children and students aged 12 and above, must wear masks in shops, workplaces and schools that do not have adequate ventilation, and also when receiving visitors at home in poorly ventilated rooms.
5. Masks should be worn outdoors as well as in well ventilated indoor spaces where it is not possible to maintain physical distancing of at least one meter.
6. Masks must be accompanied by other precautions, such as hand-washing.
7. In areas of COVID-19 spread, universal wearing of medical masks is advised in healthcare facilities, including when caring for other patients.
8. The advice is applicable to visitors, outpatients and to common areas, including cafeterias and staff rooms.
9. Healthcare workers could wear N95 respirator masks, if available, while caring for COVID-19 patients. Their only proven protection; however, is while doing aerosol-generating procedures which carry higher risks.
10. People doing vigorous physical activity are not advised to wear masks, particularly asthmatics.
11. Adequate ventilation, physical distancing and disinfection of high-touch surfaces in the gym must be maintained, or their temporarily closure should be considered.

[Excerpts from Reuters]

Dr KK Aggarwal

President CMAAO, HCFI and Past National President IMA