Austria is making the wearing of masks compulsory as part of new rules to curb the spread of #covid19. orf.at/stories/315991…
You can argue about the evidence and how big an effect this is likely to produce, but it seems logical that if everyone wears a mask it should help reduce infections, because infected people who don’t know they may be spreading the virus will be wearing one too. Worth trying.
To be clear, given the shortage of N95 respirators and other PPE it is crucial that any limited supplies are reserved for frontline health workers. But if simple masks can be produced in sufficient numbers (whether from industry or privately) it makes sense for all of us to wear.
Germany may move to make masks compulsory soon too. reuters.com/article/us-hea…
