The world health Organisation, (WHO) has changed its advice on face masks, saying they should be worn in public to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
The global body which had had previously argued that there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks indicated that new information showed masks could provide “a barrier for potentially infectious droplets”.
Some countries around the world already recommend or mandate the wearing of face coverings in public.
Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead expert on Covid-19, told Reuters news agency the recommendation was informed by findings of a recent study. She said:
We are advising governments to encourage that the general public wear a mask.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, however, emphasised that masks on their own will not protect people from Covid-19.
The organisation had in the past advised against the use of masks saying that they would give a false sense of security.
Meanwhile, some countries including Zimbabwe had already made it mandatory for the citizenry to wear face masks in the public.
More: BBC