Non - Pandemic

CNN —
World Health Organization officials Monday said they still recommend people not wear face masks unless they are sick with Covid-19 or caring for someone who is sick.

“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,” Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of the WHO health emergencies program, said at a media briefing in Geneva, Switzerland, on Monday.

The mask thing in my opinion was a calculated risk, but a mistake. I get why WHO and the CDC said this about masks initially. They didn't want panic bulk buying, and prioritized masks for those in the healthcare industry. However, when the mask mandates came about, people (rightly) pointed to WHO statements like this saying they aren't necessary and it set a level of distrust that health authorities struggled to deal with.

In hindsight it was probably better to be honest about it.
 

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