Highlights • Proper use of face masks by the general public can curtail COVID-19 transmission. • The World Health Organization encourages countries to adopt mass masking policies. • Targeted strategies can increase face mask use even in resource-limited settings. • Impact of mass masking on COVID-19 transmission to be assessed via community trials. • Efficacy of surgical vs cloth masks for COVID-19 warrants further investigations. In new guidelines published on June 5th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that in areas with ongoing COVID-19 community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear face masks in specific situations and settings as part of a comprehensive approach to suppress COVID-19 transmission. Recent online surveys in 206,729 persons residing in nine low- and middle-income countries showed that 32.7%-99.7% of respondents used face masks with significant differences across age groups and sexes. Targeted health promotion strategies and government support are required to increase mask use by the general population.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, lockdown, prevention, Low- and middle-income countries, Face masks, World Health Organization,