The public health officials in North America initially discouraged healthy individuals from wearing face masks. They stated that there is no proof that they provide effective protection against the spread of COVID-19.
Recently, some including those in Canada and the U.S. stated that wearing non-medical face masks along with physical distancing could limit the spread of the virus.
In areas where COVID-19 activity is present, in addition to handwashing and cough etiquette, using non-medical face masks or coverings is suggested as an extra layer of protection when physical distancing is hard to maintain.
Officials in some Asian countries have encouraged the use of face masks since the early days of the pandemic.
When are face masks recommended for the public?
The N95 masks are not recommended for the public in North America for protection against disease.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends wearing a medical mask at home if you:
- Have symptoms such as sneezing or coughing since it can lessen the contagious droplets from being sprayed around
- Are caring for an individual with a suspected COVID-19 infection
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https://www.healthline.com/health-news/face-masks-importance-battle-with-covid19
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/types-of-face-mask
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover.html