[mcsb4]

Please stop spreading this false information and have a look at the infection numbers in China. The masks stop droplets coming from your mouth and nose and if everybody wears them, then they are a very effective mean to massively slowing down the spreading of the virus.

No, the masks are not 100% virus tight. Yes, they prevent spreading of diseases. That's why they are worn by surgeons.

They are 20 cents a piece, that's nothing compared to the current economic costs of useless social distancing as long as people still go to work. Unless we stop the economy, masks and hand sanitizer are the way to go.

[Gupie]

This is the advise we are getting

"If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection."

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2...

"If you are not sick, do not buy a face mask. If you have one already and you are well, it is not recommended that you use it."

https://arstechnica.com/science/2020/03/dont-panic-the-compr...

Is this in your opinion "false information"?

[maest]

It's really baffling that the WHO is actively recommending _against_ face masks. They even go as far as saying not to wear a mask _even if you already own one_ which they arguably wouldn't do if they were worried about shortages.

I mean, maybe they're going for the social dissaproval angle - you can stop people from hoarding masks by making it socially bad to wear a mask, but that seems misguided if true.

[iends]

The information about masks is from a public health perspective and not a personnel health perspective due to a global mask shortage. Just because it’s better for society as a whole that all PPE go to where they can help the most people, doesn’t necessarily mean that’s the best result for you as an individual.

If there were an infinite supply of masks the advice would be entirely different.

[f0ok]

Not directly, but they are stating they are not recommended, when in fact, they help a bit: - wearing something on your face will help you remember not to touch your face. It's not much, but it's something to reduce spread by hand to mouth contact. - if the mask has good filtration (N95+, sealed on the side), it still offers some protection against dropplet. - if the person wearing it is infected but asymptomatic, they will reduce, at least a bit, the spread (e.g. when sneezing), as long as they're not wearing one with a valve.

So, some protection is better than no protection. Consequently, It's difficult for me to understand why discouraging people from using face masks is a good idea.

Use it properly and keep social distancing, while regularly cleaning your hands.

[factsaresacred]

Not the op, however this advise is misguided.

If you're sick but don't know it, your coughing/breathing is spreading the virus.

So everyone wearing a mask prevents the infected, including those that don't know that they're infected, from spreading the disease.

And for those who are not sick, it may offer small protections.

Tiny downside for a large upside.

[lolc]

The mask not only keeps airborne droplets in, or out. It keeps the wearer from touching mouth and nose involuntarily. This helps protect against smear infections!

I noticed this when I was wearing one during a flu infection. My fingers were frequently surprised to touch the mask instead of my face, and I went "oh, right, don't do that!"

[geomark]

This. Despite trying to be continuously concious about touching my face I am sometimes surprised that I absent mindedly do it. And now when I do it I am reminded and I immediately pull out my little bottle of hand gel and lather up.

[kerng]

It's interesting how much different, and even opposing information is floating around. Just the other day I read an article that said masks are bad because you will and need to touch your face more often...

Regardless, most reputable source for advice is probably from WHO, even though my gut feel/logic would tell me otherwise.

[lolc]

Most objections to masks are simply made up to justify not having to wear one. That claim is also not backed up by anything but a gut feeling, mind you :-)