CDC now recommends the general public to use cloth face-coverings to help slow the spread of COVID-19. It is even giving instructions how to make one (1). To encourage this the females are even encouraged to use a scarf to cover the face. Would you recommend the same to your patients?
This recommendation by CDC comes amid reports of spread of SARS-CoV-19 from an affected person to other by talking or speaking (2).
This reiterates the importance of social distancing and vindicates the decision of China, and many other countries to use this method to stem the spread of COVID-19.
1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/downloads/DIY-cloth-face-covering-instructions.pdf
2. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/02/health/aerosol-coronavirus-spread-white-house-letter/index.html
The discussion in the US and in the EU is clear: Virologists and Epidemiologists and authorities today are all giving advice to use self sewn face masks in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19 (not as self protection, but as measure of slowing its spread down)...
The discussion is under way in many countries and many experts suggest surgical masks or FFP2/FFP3 masks but since they are not widely available andymore to the general public the use of home sewn facial masks is recommended in order to reduce the spread of droplets (by the wearer and all persons around, e.g. in a super market or in a metry) although it is clear that they are not 100% safe they are said to reduce the infection liklihood and sprad and therefore yes, homesewn mask are know widely recommended also in Germany also by Germany's CDC Robert Koch Insititute (RKI)...
To control the Covid-19 pandemic effectively, healthcare professionals and the public must hear and accept difficult truths. Unfortunately, rather than being honest; authorities have repeatedly changed advice about face masks. The mistrust has been fuelled by conflicting messages for healthcare professionals and the general public. Now, healthcare professionals and the public can no longer trust what is being said.
So, the only safe thing for anyone to do is to try to wear face masks that provide the best protection. The real difficulty is that the best medical grade masks are in extremely short supply. Healthcare professionals, putting their lives on the line, need these masks to protect themselves from their infected patients.
Up to 25% of healthcare professionals in the UK are either off work due to sickness or because of suspected exposure. Excess deaths occur when healthcare systems can not care for patients who need treatment. The more healthcare workers who go off sick, the less care sick patients can receive.
The public can be protected by social distancing. As an intensivist I do not have this option, I must get very near to patients to look after them. So, I will be honest; medical grade face masks do protect people from transmission of Covid-19. Cloth face masks are unlikely to provide much protection to uninfected people but may reduce viral spread from an infected person. Not going near patients with Covid-19 is certainly more effective than wearing any face mask. I therefore ask the public to fully engage with social distancing and preserve the face masks for healthcare professionals who do not have this option.
The discussion in the US and in the EU is clear: Virologists and Epidemiologists and authorities today are all giving advice to use self sewn face masks in order to slow down the spread of COVID-19 (not as self protection, but as measure of slowing its spread down)...
Covering the face especially nose, mouth, and eyes is really important and helps prevent COVID-19 spread.
Thanks all for valuable responses.
Doesn't this indicate that most of the countries were too late to follow the example of China by enforcing mandatory use of face-mask to stem the spread of SARS-CoV-19.
Result is China has almost eliminated the infection while it is spreading and playing Havoc in rest of the world particularly EU and USA.
People are using cloth masks in many countries, they can be prepared at home, are inexpensive, and can be reused after disinfecting, washing, and drying them. Many shopping centers are also selling these face masks.
Most of the countries now recommended mass masking for general public with salutary results during the relaxation of lockdown in the times of COVID-19 pandemic.
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