Citizens confused about how to use masks
Citizens wait in long lines to buy face masks in front of a pharmacy in Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
By Jun Ji-hye
The government and the Korea Medical Association (KMA) have issued conflicting advice on how to use face masks to prevent coronavirus infections, creating confusion among citizens amid a continued shortages of masks.
The KMA announced its guidelines, Thursday, saying it advises against the reuse of disposable masks or wearing those made of cotton.
These are in contrast to the government's revised guidelines announced March 3.
At the time, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said the reuse of disposable masks on a temporary basis was permissible.
The ministry also said citizens could wear cotton masks if it was difficult to buy other protective masks because of the serious supply shortage.
In a televised message to the public, March 8, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun also encouraged people to use cotton masks instead of disposable ones, saying medical staff fighting COVID-19 should be prioritized.
Citizens wearing face masks walk along a street in Gangnam District, Seoul, Friday. Yonhap
The KMA's guidelines were created by an expert committee within the organization. The committee is comprised of pulmonologists and tuberculosis experts, among others. Yeom Ho-ki, a pulmonologist and a professor at Inje University College of Medicine, heads the committee.
“Many people think disposable, protective masks can be reused, but there have been no verified methods to sterilize and dry the used masks while maintaining their function,” Yeom said. “The use of cotton masks is not advised, either.”
The KMA also said that not only people who have symptoms associated with the new coronavirus, but also healthy people, should wear the protective masks to prevent any further virus infections.
“Though governments of some countries around the world have said it is not necessary for healthy people to wear face masks, we created our guidelines in consideration of the situation in Korea,” Yeom said.
Regarding the KMA's guidelines, an official from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety said, “The government's March 3 guidelines were temporary measures created in an emergency situation and a supply shortage.”
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization has advised healthy people not to wear masks, saying, “If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection,” and, “Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.”