PEOPLE are being advised to wear masks when out in public.
The Ministry of Health in a release on Sunday stated, “Based on ongoing local and international research into the spread and treatment of Covid-19, the Ministry of the Health continuously updates its public health protocols as new scientific evidence emerges.”
It noted that a significant recent development has been the recommendation from the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) supporting “wearing cloth face coverings in public settings.”
The release stated, “In this regard, the Ministry of Health advises the general population that, once they are out in public, cloth masks (including homemade masks) should be used as a part of the full range of personal protection measures that should be adopted to reduce the spread of Covid-19.”
It stated, “It should be noted that cloth masks are recommended for use by the public. As previously stated, surgical masks and N95 masks should be left for use by health care workers.”
The Chief Medical Officer Dr Roshan Parasram, advised the public of this development during the Ministry of Health’s virtual media conference on Saturday, the release stated.
The use of a mask alone will not reduce the risk of getting Covid-19, the release stated.
It also advised the following protection guidelines:
- Stay at home
- Wash your hands properly with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Cover your coughs
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid close contact with people who are ill
- Sanitize surfaces that are touched often
- Practice social distancing
It further noted:
- Cloth masks (including homemade masks) are recommended for use by the public. Surgical masks and N95 masks are reserved for use by healthcare workers
- The wearing of masks is highly recommended in areas of high foot traffic (e.g. supermarkets, pharmacies, hardware stores, banks)
- Persons must follow the recommended procedures for the use of masks, including sanitising hands before putting on and after removing masks. Cloth masks should also be washed and dried thoroughly before re-use.
When to wear masks at home:
- If a family member believes that they have been exposed to Covid-19
- If someone in the home has Covid-19 symptoms
