The epidemic has worsened. Why don't the British wear masks?

The official only recommends that patients wear online and offline full out of stock

Although the number of confirmed cases in the UK has grown at an alarming rate recently, few people wear masks on the street or on the bus and subway. Why don't Britons wear masks? Is it really not taking the epidemic seriously? There are multiple reasons behind this.

The first is the caliber of government propaganda. Although the British National Health System (NHS) has adjusted the UK's risk level from "low" to "medium", the NHS official website still tells the public: "While wearing masks in hospitals and other places is important, there is little evidence that wearing masks It has a wide range of benefits to the public. "The UK Department of Health even believes that wearing a mask will increase the spread of the virus, arguing that masks will make people touch their faces more and that wearing masks is likely to last longer than the design allows. This will actually breed bacteria.

At present, the only British official who recommends wearing a mask is patients who have cough or sneezing symptoms. The purpose of wearing a mask is to prevent them from transmitting the virus to people who are in close contact. Officials, including the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Johnson, have publicized the best way of prevention to the public: "wash your hands frequently": Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds after entering the door, eating or sneezing, coughing.

Of course, another important reason why the British government does not recommend people to buy and wear masks is to worry about running out of medical resources, making it more difficult for the NHS to purchase masks in the future. Since the outbreak, the global price of personal protective equipment has soared: the price of medical masks has increased six times, the price of N95 respiratory protective masks has doubled, the price of protective clothing has doubled, and it may take months to supply. Masks in other European countries, such as France, Germany, and Italy, are in short supply. The UK ’s online and offline masks have also been completely out of stock since February. WHO Director-General Tedsay warns that without protective equipment, "global health workers will face real risks."

In the cultural tradition, the British are unwilling to lose the spirit of "keep calm". This slogan was found everywhere in Britain. It was originally printed on a British government poster at the beginning of World War II in 1939. "We have a cup of tea and we stand up and live our lives, which is the typical British idea."

Zhao Yan, Adjunct Researcher, British Studies Centre, Shanghai International Studies University