Quote:
Originally Posted by russellw
The reality is that the original recommendations from the WHO and US CDC were based more on ensuring that limited supplies of N95 masks were available for front-line health care workers and (officially) the early belief that the disease prevalence was low.
Current recommendations from both organisations is that they should be worn when in public and they are now mandatory in several countries as well as parts of the USA. Current studies indicate that masks are probably of greatest benefit in stopping an infected person passing it on (which is why one-way valve masks are banned in countries that mandated them) but there is still a clear benefit to an uninfected person in terms of protection.
In Australia, the national Department of Health said on 9 July that masks are recommended in areas where community transmission is occurring and where physical distancing is difficult.
Another piece of interesting data coming out of the USA is that while the hospitalisation rate for over 65's is around 300 / 100k of population, the rate for under 30's has increased substantially and is now ~35 / 100k.
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Add to that, if I may. The authorities are now reasonably sure the "second wave" in Melbourne came about from the disease escaping from hotel quarantine. The security guards contracted the virus from OS arrivals; spread it between one another and then their families.
Had the security guards followed proper hygiene protocols the second wave may not have happened.
Had the security guards warn masks worth a couple of dollars, how much money and inconvenience would have been saved not having a second lock down?
Not to mention all the extra people becoming ill and some dieing.