Mandatory face masks slow COVID-19 spread by 40%, study finds – Department of Health says guidance on aged care outbreaks now “under review”
Just days after the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidance on the use of face masks, further confirmation that they can halt the spread of coronavirus. A German study has found the introduction of masks in shops and public transport...
Just days after the World Health Organization (WHO) updated its guidance on the use of face masks, further confirmation that they can halt the spread of coronavirus. A German study has found the introduction of masks in shops and public transport across Germany “strongly reduced the number of incidences” of new cases. We asked the Department of Health if the Government was planning to change its advice to be in line with the WHO guidance. Their spokesperson told us that the routine use of face masks in the general community is currently not recommended while the rate of community transmission in Australia is low.
“The Australian Government’s current advice remains that most people will not benefit from wearing a mask. Masks are of benefit to people who are sick because virus-laden mucus and secretions are captured by the mask rather than spreading beyond the person coughing or sneezing, and health care workers who have frequent, close contact with sick people.”
They did acknowledge that some people may choose to wear a mask in situations where it is not feasible to maintain physical distancing e.g. on public transport and/or if they are at increased risk of severe illness if infected (e.g. because of their age or a chronic medical condition).
“This may provide some additional protection in these circumstances,” they added.
The Infection Control Expert Group (ICEG) has published a new document about the use of face masks in Australia during COVID-19 which states that the routine use of masks by health care workers is not recommended unless there is a high-risk of COVID-19 transmission. However, the Department has revealed that the ICEG guidance on managing outbreaks in residential care homes is currently under review. While this review has ruled out changing the advice on mask use among residential care staff, could there be changes to the way providers will be required to manage future outbreaks?
