Here's a good one (and a hat tip to Nemo for finding it for us.)
It's apparent from the opening line where it says masks won't help "a healthy person" prevent infection that the article is intended to perpetuate a misunderstanding. Uh... hello! Masks are meant to prevent INFECTED people from spreading the disease, not healthy ones.
Think of it like this: A surgeon doesn't wear a mask so he won't catch what his heart patient has. He wears it so that he won't GIVE his vulnerable patient something that the surgeon might unknowingly carry. That's what masks do. They aren't perfect, but they're far better than nothing.
The article does state that masks will help prevent sick people from spreading the disease but makes no mention of the fact that COVID-19 often carries no symptoms, so it isn't possible for a person to know whether he's healthy unless he has just been tested.
April 7, 2020
WHO: There is no evidence wearing a mask in public setting prevents COVID-19 infection
by LARRY D. CURTIS, KUTV
komonews.com
Lowe's customers wear gloves and masks as they shop, Friday, April 3, 2020, during the coronavirus pandemic in New York.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (KUTV) – The World Health Organization said yesterday in advice on the use of masks, that there is no evidence wearing a mask by a healthy person in a community setting can prevent infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19. It said that included universal community masking.
The six-page document was released by WHO Monday, offering advice on the use of masks in communities during home care, health care settings and for public healthcare. It lists different suggestions and ways to prevent the spread of the virus in different environments.
COMMUNITY SETTINGS
Who said those who are sick can help prevent the spread with a mask that prevents the spread of infections droplets from an infectious person. It also said there is limited evidence that a person wearing a mask in households or while contacting sick patients or attending mass gatherings may be beneficial as a preventative measure. Then the report says:
However, there is currently no evidence that wearing a mask (whether medical or other types) by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including COVID-19.
President Donald Trump announced new federal guidelines Friday recommending that Americans wear face coverings when in public to help fight the spread of the new coronavirus. He said immediately that he had no intention of following the guidelines. The report from WHO seems to contradict advice given from the CDC last week.
The new guidance Friday from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people -- especially in areas hit hard by the spread of the coronavirus -- to use rudimentary coverings like T-shirts, bandannas and non-medical masks to cover their faces while outdoors.
WHO also says medical masks should be reserved for healthcare workers and the use of medical masks in the community may create a false sense of security, with the neglect of other essential measures, including hand washing and social distancing. It may also lead to touching the face under the mask or under the eyes and isn't cost efficient for the community while taking needed masks from medical professionals.
It does advise that a person with symptoms should:
• Wear a medical mask, self-isolate and get medical advice
• Follow instructions on how to put on, take off and dispose of medical masks
• Follow other preventative measures
It also gives advice for caregivers, including all the widely circulated advice about hand washing, surface cleaning and distancing but says wearing a medical mask in the same room as an affected person when possible while disposing of contaminated tissues and then performing immediate hand washing. It also says to improve airflow and ventilation in the living space by opening windows as much as possible.
In healthcare settings it says a medical mask alone is not enough for healthcare workers and suggests a particulate respirator at least as protective as an N95 mask, and said workers using cloth-only masks were at an increased risk. It also emphasized disposal of masks is an essential part of using them.
The full document from WHO is here .
http://komonews.com/news/coronavirus/who-there-is-no-evidence-wearing-a-mask-in-public-setting-prevents-covid-19-infection-1
| 
