Mass masking as a way to contain COVID-19 and exit lockdown in low- and middle-income countries

Siewe Fodjo J.N.; Pengpid S.; Villela E.F.D.M.; Van Thang V.; Ahmed M.; Ditekemena J.; Crespo B.V.; Wanyenze R.K.; Dula J.; Watanabe T.; Delgado-Ratto C.; Driessche K.V.; Van den Bergh R.; Colebunders R. · Journal of Infection (2020) · DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2020.07.015

Resumen

In new guidelines published on June 5th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in areas with ongoing COVID-19 community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear face masks in specific situations and settings as part of a comprehensive approach to suppress COVID-19 transmission. Recent online surveys in 206,729 persons residing in nine low- and middle-income countries showed that 32.7%-99.7% of respondents used face masks with significant differences across age groups and sexes. Targeted health promotion strategies and government support are required to increase mask use by the general population.

Instituciones: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia