The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has published a statement and warned that the use of cloth face masks is not enough to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Agency warns that the cloth face masks should be worn in combination with certain practices such as:
- Regular handwashing with soap and water
- Social distancing by maintaining a distance of 2 metres between yourself and others.
- Frequent cleaning of surfaces with soap and water
- Avoiding social gatherings.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control further warned that the health care workers, those suffering from COVID-19 symptoms like coughing or sneezing and the elderly should NOT wear cloth face masks; instead, they should wear the medical masks.
NCDC also warned that the cloth face masks should not be used on children less than 2 years. It also warned that cloth face masks ought to be washed before first use and ought not to be tested at vendors’ shops. Also, cloth face masks should be washed and dried in the sun after use before reusing the mask. It is in the good interest of the public to follow all NCDC guidelines in order to prevent the spread of the Coronavirus pandemic.