How can you protect yourself in this pandemic?
Staying home, maintaining hand hygiene and wearing masks?
In a press brief to the media on Tuesday, 31 March, the government and ICMR clarified that mask usage was not necessarily always helpful to the general public.
Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW) said that,
ICMR’s Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar added that, “There are no scientific studies to show the health benefits of wearing a mask for non-sick persons.”
The main idea is to wear a mask when the risk of contact or exposure is high, and it is worn to prevent the touching of your hands to your nose or face then.
“We suggest social distancing as a more appropriate method,” said the government.
Agarwal also had a message to the media persons covering COVID-19 press briefs or events who wore masks. “This is not neccesary, please don’t communicate fear and panic by the use of masks.”
Meanwhile, there are various reports from hosptials across the ountry that heathcare workers are running out of essecntial protective equipment like masks.
Agarwal urged the public to use discretion while purchasing and buying masks, saying,
What about the innovative DIY masks and reports of homemade masks being used as a substitute?
Agarwal added that these need to be technically examined for quality and only then can be recommended by the government.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)