WHO: Cloth face masks still work against new strain of virus

The World Health Organization said on Friday it had no plans to change its guidelines recommending cloth face masks as new variants of the coronavirus spread, as mutated strains are transmitted in the same way .

Germany and Austria have made medical masks mandatory on public transport and in stores allowing only surgical or FFP2 masks, rather than cloth masks amid concerns over the threat posed by the new mutations rapidly spreading virals.

Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO COVID-19 technical manager, said some of the newer variants “may have increased transmissibility,” but studies in Britain and South Africa on the mutations detected there, “we have no indication that the modes of transmission has changed.” It spreads in the same way ”.

The WHO advises that “non-medical sheet masks can be used by the general public under the age of 60 who have no underlying health problems.”

In the meantime, he recommends medical masks for health workers in clinical settings; anyone who is unwell, waiting for Covid-19 test results or having positive results; and those dealing with a suspected or confirmed case.

They are also recommended for people aged 60 or over, or with underlying illnesses, due to their higher risk of serious illness.

Van Kerkhove told a press conference in Geneva that the United Nations health agency was not planning to change its position.

“Countries are free to make decisions as they see fit,” she said.

“We will continue to review the evidence that we have seen, but based on the data that we have seen from countries that have these virus variants, there is no change in the modes of transmission.

“If anything changes, we will modify and update (the tips) accordingly.”

She said fabric masks should be made of three layers to ensure adequate protection.

The inner layer should be water absorbent, like cotton; the middle layer should be of a material such as non-woven polypropylene and acts as a filter; while the outer layer should be water resistant, like polyester, according to WHO guidelines.

But these face masks are just one tool to reduce the spread of the virus, and no single solution would bring the pandemic under control, Van Kerkhove said.

As for medical masks, required by health workers, she said global shortages remained a concern.

“The shortage problem has improved over time, but it is still not completely resolved,” she said.