Tag: face masks

  • Wearing face masks declared mandatory in Balochistan

    Wearing face masks declared mandatory in Balochistan

    The Balochistan government has declared wearing a mask mandatory for the citizens to control the spread of coronavirus.

    According to the Balochistan government’s spokesperson, Liaquat Shahwani, the citizens have been advised to wear mask or to cover their faces with any cloth in the wake of COVID-19 outbreak.

    “This will help the government in controlling over the pandemic”, Shahwani said and added that strict action would be taken against the violators of the government orders.

    The the latest tally of coronavirus cases of the province up to 351.

  • No need to wear masks, says World Health Organization

    No need to wear masks, says World Health Organization

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) has reiterated its advice to people to not wear face masks if they were either not infected by the coronavirus or not caring for a patient of the new coronavirus — COVID-19, CNN reported.

    In a media briefing, WHO Emergencies Program Executive Director Dr Mike Ryan said there was “no specific evidence to suggest that the wearing of masks by the mass population has any potential benefit”.

    “In fact, there’s some evidence to suggest the opposite in the misuse of wearing a mask properly or fitting it properly,” he added. “There also is the issue that we have a massive global shortage.”

    Dr Ryan, a former trauma surgeon who has worked very closely with patients during Ebola outbreaks, stressed that people most at risk were those working at the frontline.

    “Frontline health workers […] are exposed to the virus every second of every day. The thought of them not having masks is horrific,” he added.

    Dr Maria Van Kerkhove — an infectious disease expert and the WHO top official’s colleague — echoed Dr Ryan’s comments, saying it was crucial to “prioritize the use of masks for those who need it most”.

    “In the community, we do not recommend the use of wearing masks unless you yourself are sick and as a measure to prevent onward spread from you if you are ill,” Dr Van Kerkhove noted, adding that masks were only suggested for those who were sick and in self-quarantine or those living with coronavirus-positive patients and caring for them.

  • Coronavirus in Pakistan: Prices of face masks increase by 900%

    Coronavirus in Pakistan: Prices of face masks increase by 900%

    With a couple of confirmed cases of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — surfacing in the country, the prices of face or medical masks have increased by staggering 900% as local pharmacies also run out of what is said to provide some protection from the virus.

    While some experts say it provides modest protection against the virus that is new to science, others doubt the effectiveness of such masks for stopping COVID-19 transmission. United States (US) health officials say the virus spreads mostly between people who are in close contact with each other, and from respiratory droplets when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

    China is the world’s largest producer of the said masks, with a reported daily capacity of 20 million pieces, but by the estimate of its manufacturers, domestic demand alone is around 50 to 60 million per day. Amid the surge in demand, medical store owners are citing a shortage of the masks as the reason behind the increase in its price from Rs100 for a box to Rs1,000 for the same in markets across Pakistan.

    CORONAVIRUS IN PAKISTAN:

    First two cases of coronavirus in Pakistan were reported on Wednesday night, one of which was in the provincial capital of the country’s southeastern province of Sindh, and the other in the federal capital.

    While details of the case in Islamabad have not yet been made public, the first reported case is that of a 22-year-old man who, according to government sources, reached Pakistan from Iran by air and has a history of travel to Tehran “from where he acquired the virus”.

    It was also confirmed by Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

    “I can confirm first two cases of coronavirus in Pakistan. Both cases are being taken care of according to clinical standard protocols and both of them are stable. No need to panic, things are under control,” he tweeted.