Face masks ‘key to fight against Covid-19’

Manama: An expert has stressed the importance of face masks to limit the spread of Covid-19.

National Taskforce for Combating Covid-19 Monitoring Committee head Lieutenant Colonel Dr Manaf Al Qahtani said in addition to wearing masks, other health guidelines, including continuous hand washing and social distancing, are equally important.

The fight against Covid-19 goes through several stages that require precautionary measures that change as the virus evolves, spreads to societies and transforms into a pandemic, he said.

Lt Col Dr Al Qahtani said at first the World Health Organisation (WHO) had not advised wearing masks because the global spread at that time was concentrated in specific countries.

WHO updated its guidelines with the evolution of the virus and advised to wear masks, as a precautionary measure, to maintain freedom of movement, he said.

Meanwhile, Salmaniya Medical Complex infectious and internal diseases consultant Dr Jameela Al Salman and chief of Disease Control Section at the Health Ministry’s Public Health Directorate Dr Adel Al Sayyad yesterday took part in a remote meeting with Chinese experts organised by the Arab League’s Secretariat General.

They discussed the virus outbreak at the global and regional levels, and measures taken to prevent its spread.

The Chinese experts shed light on precautionary and preventive measures, clinical symptoms, tests and treatments that have proven effective.

They also answered questions from participants on ways to confront the coronavirus.

Dr Al Salman said Bahrain is on track in dealing with the current health situation.

This is the fruitful outcome of preparations and measures taken by the kingdom, in addition to concerted efforts to prevent the spread of the virus, she said.

Bahrain’s strategy has proven efficient in dealing with cases such as tests, diagnosis, treatment and recovery of detected cases, in addition to tracing contacts, she said.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/799564/Face-masks-‘key-to-fight-against-Covid-19’