While using masks could help reduce the spread of coronavirus, there is some threat that healthy and fit individuals could find themselves at greater risk of infection by using them, a medic has cautioned.
Professor Martin Marshall, chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, stated it would make sense to recommend the general public to use masks on a voluntary basis to minimize the chance of the spread of coronavirus.
But he told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that there is a danger that fit and healthy individuals might be increasing their possibility of infection by using a mask that motivates them to touch their face.
His comments come as the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) was anticipated to go over the use of masks in a conference on Thursday.
” There’s no research evidence to support wearing masks if you are essentially in shape and well,” stated Prof Marshall.
” Certainly if individuals wear masks there’s a danger they play around with it, they have fun with their eyes more and possibly you’re even at a greater risk of getting an infection.
” However it is common sense that if they are coughing and spluttering then it makes complete sense to wear masks in order to secure other individuals.”
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He went on:” I think the guidance that we’re anticipating to hear is that the using of face masks is a voluntary activity not mandated and it definitely makes a lot of sense to focus restricted resources that we have at the moment on those who have biggest requirement which’s the health experts.
” This advanced package is likely to be more rigorous, better, but really it’s perfectly sensible to wear a bandanna around your mouth or whatever, that will work, it will not be rather as excellent but it will be good enough.”
Likewise on Thursday early morning, Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis said no brand-new decision had been made on using masks ahead of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) conference.
He told BBC Breakfast: “Sage is satisfying today but we have not yet had that suggestions as ministers yet.
” I do not wish to get ahead of ourselves and prejudge what will come out of Sage just yet. There’s no change at the minute.”
On Wednesday, health secretary Matt Hancock said he “can’t assure” that everybody throughout the UK will be offered totally free protective masks if scientific recommendations dictates that they should be worn.
Hancock was reacting to a question in the Commons from Labour previous minister Hilary Benn, who asked whether members of the public would be expected to source their own masks if they are required to use them in particular circumstances by government guidance.
The health secretary responded: “We’ll follow the guidance, we’ll listen to what the Sage advisory group says on masks and then we will carry out that.
” I can’t guarantee that we will provide everybody free masks, I suggest that would be an extraordinary endeavor, and we do have to ensure that we have supplies readily available particularly for health and social care personnel, where the scientific recommendations throughout has actually been that the using of masks is essential in those situations and we’ve got to make certain the provision is there for them.”
