The
Coronavirus pandemic cases across the world continue to scale high as WHO warns
against wearing masks for those not sick.
It’s a month
since COVID-19 was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO),
as the number of those infected continue to surge.
Currently, Coronavirus
cases globally tally at 786,000, with the death toll running over 37,000 people,
according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.
Most affected countries
The United
States has the most confirmed cases globally at over 160,700, and more than
3,000 people have died with the New York State recording a death toll of over
1,200.
Italy comes
in second with 101,739 cases and at least 11,591 deaths.
Spain tally
stands at 85,195 cases with deaths toll growing to at least 7,340.
China comes
in third with 82,198 cases and at least 3, 308 deaths.
Recovery
The global
epicenter of the virus, is reported to have recovered fully from the pandemic
with businesses going back to normal.
The Wuhan
province, where the virus outbreak was first reported, has been connected back
to other provinces with the government lifting lock down measures.
Meanwhile,
the World Health Organization officials on Monday said they still recommend
people not wear face masks unless they are sick with Covid-19 or caring for
someone who is sick.
Dr. Mike
Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program said wearing
masks is yet to report any potential benefit against the virus infection.
“There
is 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,”, said WHO executive director.
He also
warned that if the entire population wears masks, the current global shortage will
be worse.
“There
also is the issue that we have a massive global shortage. Right now the people
most at risk from this virus are frontline health workers who are exposed to
the virus every second of every day. The thought of them not having masks is
horrific,” said Ryan.
Dr. Maria
Van Kerkhove, an infectious disease epidemiologist with the WHO also said that
it is important “we prioritize the use of masks for those who need it
most,” which would be frontline health care workers.
