The general surgeon has a message for people who want to get exhausted and store masks to fight coronavirus – don’t do it.
“Seriously people – STOP BUYING MASKS!” General surgeon Jerome Adams tweeted. “They are NOT effective in preventing the general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if health care providers cannot get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”
The capital accent is entirely hers, and shows how emphatic it is that people follow the prevention script offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. His tweet is related to this script, which includes a section that essentially corresponds to Adams’ position on the masks.
“The CDC does not recommend that people who wear a full face mask protect themselves from respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19,” says the CDC. “The masks should be used by people with symptoms of COVID-19 to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.”
CDC recommendations add that “the use of face masks is also crucial for health workers and those caring for someone in close surroundings.”
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Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar said last week that the United States had 30 million N95 masks in stock but needed at least 270 million more for health workers alone. to prepare for a more widespread epidemic.
For the rest of us, the CDC says we must avoid close contact with sick people; avoid touching our eyes, nose and mouth; stay home when we are sick; and cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
Also suggested: Frequently clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a spray bottle or regular household cleaning wipe.
Coronavirus, explained: Everything you need to know about the alarming virus
Over 70 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the United States, including one death. Globally, more than 86,000 cases have been confirmed, the vast majority of them in China. Nearly 3,000 people died, including more than 2,800 in China.