ANALYSIS
Health authorities, including the Academy of Medicine in France, gave new recommendations on Friday on the wearing of masks for the general public as part of the fight against the spread of coronavirus. They now encourage the wearing of masks for everyone, deemed useless a few days ago for non-patients. Europe 1 takes stock.
Similar recommendations in the United States
France's position is not isolated. The President of the United States, Donald Trump, also announced that health officials are now advising Americans to cover their faces when they leave their homes. The day before, the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, had also asked the inhabitants to protect themselves with a scarf if necessary. Turnaround, change of government doctrine, or strengthening of protective measures?
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With regard to France, it is first necessary to distinguish the different types of masks. Medical masks, surgical masks or FFP2, are reserved for patients and caregivers. Some to retain the postillions, others to filter the air and prevent doctors from being contaminated.
"A mask that you can make yourself"
The new recommendation from the Academy of Medicine concerns "fabric" masks, which some have started to make. "When you leave your house, go shopping, take the elevator, take public transportation, the recommendation is that everyone wears a mask that you can do yourself and that "You don't have to buy from the pharmacy," says Professor Yves Buisson, a member of the Academy.
"Everyone must act as if they were a healthy carrier of the infected virus. This mask does not protect you, it is an altruistic mask: by covering your nose and mouth, you avoid spreading the virus around you. "
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Scientists call to apply this strategy when the containment is lifted, for at least two weeks, to avoid a rebound in the contamination. Associated with the maintenance of barrier gestures, wearing a mask for everyone has indeed shown a certain effectiveness in several countries in Asia, such as in South Korea.