Zahedan University of Medical Sciences Urges Public to Wear a Face Mask to Stop the Spread of COVID-19

The World Health Organization and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now include face masks in their recommendations for slowing the spread of the virus. The CDC recommends cloth face masks for the public and not the surgical and N95 masks needed by health care providers .

Report from: Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Vice Chancellery for Health
Published on: 8 September 2020

Masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives; the use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19. You should also maintain a minimum physical distance of at least 1 meter from others, frequently clean your hands and avoid touching your face and mask (2).

Some people have COVID-19 but don"t have any symptoms. Both groups can unknowingly spread the virus to others. Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as frequent hand-washing and social distancing; help slow the spread of the virus.

Wearing a mask or face covering can reduce the risk of people who have COVID-19 spreading the virus to others. They may feel well or have no obvious symptoms. A mask or face covering can help stop infectious droplets spreading when they speak, laugh, cough or sneeze. This is referred to as ‘source control". Masks and face coverings can be useful if there is known community transmission and people are near each other (less than 2 meters apart). For example, in shops or other confined or crowded environments (3).

References:
1. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). COVID-19: How much protection do face masks offer? 2020 [Available from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-mask/art-20485449.
2. World Health Organization Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public: When and how to use masks? 2020 [Available from: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks.

3. Ministry of Health - New Zealand. COVID-19: Use of masks and face coverings in the community 2020 [Available from: https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-health-advice-public/covid-19-use-masks-and-face-coverings-community.