Indian government claims this popular face mask can’t block the coronavirus

[Chris Smith]

• Coronavirus transmission can be reduced with the help of face masks, social distancing, and frequent handwashing.
• Not all face masks and homemade coverings can provide enough protection, as some of them have better filtration systems than others.
• A strange recommendation from the Indian government advises the population to avoid some masks that were believed to be of the safest face masks that you can buy.

One of the most unexpected controversies of the novel coronavirus concerns face masks. Health organizations like the WHO and CDC said in the early months of the pandemic that face masks can't prevent the spread of the virus, even though many people in Asia were wearing them at the time. Then in April, that line changed as more evidence came in, proving that talking is enough for an infected person to spread the virus to others. Face masks or homemade coverings were then advised starting in early April. In the weeks that followed, Dr. Anthony Fauci explained that the initial strategy was a lie in order to preserve the limited PPE supply to ensure that healthcare workers have access to them. As supply increased, the government felt ready to advise the general public to use face masks. But just as more people started wearing masks in public, Donald Trump and officials in other countries refused to wear masks in public. Suddenly, the world had to deal with an increasing number of anti-mask protestors who came up with all sorts of reasons to explain why they don't want to wear PPE in public places. In recent weeks, the WHO acknowledged that the virus can spread via aerosols in the air, but stopped short for strongly recommending face masks. Trump also started endorsing face masks in recent weeks, a marked departure from his initial stance on the matter. Still, protestors did not just go away because months worth of damage has already been done by the administration's poor messaging.

With all that in mind, the latest episode in this face mask saga comes from India, where the government is warning people that a type of the safest face masks you can buy can't block the coronavirus. It's unclear what science this new advisory is based on, and the warning might have an unexpected ripple effect around the world, further fueling anti-mask campaigns.

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Indian government claims this popular face mask can’t block the coronavirus originally appeared on BGR.com on Wed, 22 Jul 2020 at 15:31:36 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Via BRG - Boy Genius Report