Americans may start using masks to battle spread of Covid-19

WASHINGTON - As the United States stares down the barrel of a pandemic death toll of up to 240,000 even in a good scenario, opinion may be shifting in favour of the use of face masks by the general public.

And given that the US' Covid-19 case and mortality rates have rocketed, some are wondering if, apart from the administration's failure to gear up in time to contain the coronavirus, the fact that most of the general public in a leaky lockdown don't wear masks is a factor. "It doesn't have to be a classical mask, but something that will prevent them from infecting others. This is actively being looked at."

The question is simple. If a mask protects a healthcare worker dealing with a Covid-19 or any other patient, or a patient from a healthcare worker, why would it not protect any other person wearing it in any other situation in which he may encounter an infected person at close quarters?The CDC has confused the public, a nurse who has been working for two weeks with Covid-19 patients in New York City told The Straits Times, asking not to be named.

Neighbouring Germany's eastern city of Jena followed suit, instructing people to put on masks when shopping or travelling on public transport.In China, the authorities strongly encourage the use of masks in public, though the National Health Commission last month said these were not needed in well-ventilated, uncrowded areas. Actual enforcement of the guideline is left up to local governments.

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