US Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams on Saturday pleaded with people to quit stocking up on face masks in a post to Twitter. “Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!” he wrote.
“They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”
Standard surgical masks — the kind most people are buying and wearing — don’t help because coronavirus spreads in droplets, which surgical masks do not block, according to reports.
The surgical masks can trap droplets containing the virus inside, increasing your risk rather than reducing it.
They should only be worn by people who already have the virus to help prevent spreading it to others, Perencevich said.
N95 respirator masks can help keep droplets containing coronavirus or other viruses out, but only if worn correctly, Forbes reported.
“Wearing a mask is tricky because it can create a false sense of security,” Perencevich said, according to the publication.
“If you don’t wash your hands before you take off the mask and after you take off your mask, you could increase your risk.”
And fiddling with the mask may cause you to touch your face more often, also increasing your risk, Forbes reported.
Improperly disposed surgical or respirator masks also can risk spreading coronavirus.
The CDC instead suggests avoiding close contact with people who are sick, avoiding touching your eyes, nose, and mouth, staying home when you are sick, covering your cough or sneeze with a tissue and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched objects and surfaces using a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
The agency also advises washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
