Promoting the rational use of masks in community, home, and hospital settings in COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been reported across 216 nations and territories since its emergence in the Wuhan city of China. It has been envisaged that the use of medical mask is one of the preventive strategies to limit the spread of transmission for many respiratory infections, including COVID-19. However, it is important to note that the use of the mask alone cannot provide complete protection, unless it is coupled with other infection prevention and control measures like hand hygiene. At present, the extensive usage of masks by healthy people in the community setting is not advocated owing to the shortage of masks for health-care personnel and the lack of evidence to support that wearing a mask by healthy people in community settings will prevent the acquisition of infection. In conclusion, in the fight against COVID-19 infection, the use of masks in community, home, and health-care settings needs to be clearly defined and streamlined to promote its rational usage. These masks play an important role in reducing the risk of transmission, provided it is supplemented with other infection prevention and control measures.