Publications

Panic seized the world as the coronavirus (CoV) disease 19 pandemic ushered in the New Year. Non-pharmaceutical interventions are strategies that are adopted by communities and individuals who are both well (to reduce exposure and avoid infection) and unwell (to avoid affecting others). The directives pertaining to the use of masks in the community by major health organizations contradicted each other. The articles that were reviewed included studies done post-recent pandemics vis-a-vis influenza pandemic 2009 and severe acute respiratory syndrome-CoV 2002–2003. The literature showed that there is sufficient reason to use “mass masking” as a strategy to cope with severe pandemics. There is evidence that cloth masks are comparable to other types of masks. In conclusion, cloth masks may be used by the public, and other masks and respirators should be reserved for frontline workers. This non-pharmaceutical intervention, when used in conjuncture with hand hygiene and physical distancing, could potentially flatten the curve.