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THERE HAS BEEN an increase in the number of people wearing face masks recently in a bid to stop the spread of Covid-19, but there is confusion about how to use them properly.
Some people have been wearing masks since the start of the pandemic but there has been another surge in demand since the government last week advised that face coverings be worn on public transport and in crowded places.
Wearing a face mask is not mandatory but many people are opting to in an effort to help prevent the spread of the virus.
There are are opposing views on the effectiveness of masks, but – if worn properly – they could help to stop Covid-19 from spreading.
Speaking at a government briefing last Friday, Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan warned that people “cannot regard face coverings as some kind of magic shield in relation to this disease”, adding that good hand hygiene and social distancing are still essential.
‘Not a magic bullet’
Holohan said he is “concerned” the advice about face coverings could be “interpreted in a way by people that meant that maybe we don’t need to worry about washing our hands as much or, if we wear a face covering, we can we can disregard the requirement in terms of social distancing – that is not the case”.
“So this is an additional hygiene measure. It’s not a magic bullet for this disease, and that has to be understood,” Holohan said.
Speaking at the same event, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar reiterated this, saying: “We really need to emphasise that it’s an additional hygiene measure, it’s not a substitute for social distancing and for other forms of hygiene.”
Varadkar said people are encouraged to wear face coverings, rather than masks, to ensure masks can be saved for healthcare workers.
“That’s really important when it comes to surgical masks and when it comes to respiratory masks. While there is no shortage of them at the moment, if we had millions of people using them every day there’s a risk that it might lead to a shortage for healthcare workers.
“We don’t want that to happen so that’s why we’re advising face coverings in preference to face masks,” Varadkar stated.
When and how to wear a face mask
The Health Service Executive (HSE) has advised people to wear a face covering in the following circumstances:
The HSE has said cloth face coverings are not suitable for children under the age of 13 and anyone who:
In terms of wearing a face covering, the HSE said it should cover a person’s nose, mouth and under their chin and:
Here is the HSE’s advice on how to put on a face covering properly:
DO:
DON’T:
If you wear glasses, advice on how to stop them from fogging up while wearing a face mask can be read here.
More advice from the HSE, and guidance on how to make your own face covering, can be read here.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued similar advice in terms of wearing face masks.
The WHO’s advice is as follows:
The WHO has stated that masks are only effective “when used in combination with frequent hand-cleaning with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water”.
“If you wear a mask, then you must know how to use it and dispose of it properly,” the organisation noted.
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