The Surgeon General has issued a warning on Saturday advising the public to stop buying face masks amid the global Coronavirus outbreak.
The Seattle Times reports Surgeon General Jerome M. Adams said in a tweet early Saturday advising the public to stop buying face masks as a preventative measure against the novel coronavirus. The tweet also says the lack of face masks will become an issue for health care providers:
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“Seriously people — STOP BUYING MASKS!” They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if health care providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”
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Adams advised that the public should frequently wash their hands and if they are feeling sick, to stay home. Currently, the N95s face masks are selling out in the market due to the global panic of possibly contracting the virus.
The best way to protect yourself and your community is with everyday preventive actions, like staying home when you are sick and washing hands with soap and water, to help slow the spread of respiratory illness.
Get your #FluShot– fewer flu patients = more resources for#COVID19— U.S. Surgeon General (@Surgeon_General) February 29, 2020
Executive Director of WHO Dr. Michael Ryan also stated practicing basic hygiene is the best way to prevent infection:
“There are limits to how a mask can protect you from being infected. The most important thing everyone can do is wash your hands, keep your hands away from your face and observe very precise hygiene.”