The question of whether mouth masks is the solution to reduce the spread of the virus is a topic of concern for many. Scientific support, as Prime Minister Mark Rutte put it, is wafer-thin. Until June 1, wearing mouth masks was not yet mandatory. Since the end of April and also after the relaxation of the intelligent lockdown, we have seen a steady decline in the number of infections.
On 4 June, professor Jaap van Dissel of RIVM presented the figures for COVID-19 in the Netherlands; 98 percent of people who get the coronavirus have few complaints. One and a half percent must be admitted to hospital and 0.4 percent end up in intensive care. Currently, the number of people in intensive care is less than 100 and there are approximately 2000 infections. Since the end of April, the number of people who visit the GP with flu symptoms has been lower than the limit in the event of an epidemic. The virus is manageable and will die out. Of the 57,630 corona tests performed by the GGD last week, the virus was detected in only 2.1% of people with complaints. The results are increasingly negative.
98 percent of people who get the coronavirus have few complaints.
In total, 48,087 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in a population of 17.4 million. The number of people who have had an infection may be higher because in the early days not everyone with symptoms could be tested for the presence of the virus. 6,042 people have since died of the virus. 50% are over 83 years of age and 70% have underlying suffering. Both in Belgium and in the Netherlands it appears that about 80% of people with COVID-19 in intensive care are seriously overweight. Compared to 2015, fewer people died during the annual flu season this year. Also, no more people have died worldwide than in previous years during the flu season. This includes the number of COVID-19 deaths.
Policy changes of mouth masks
For the time being, RIVM advises that wearing mouth masks has no effect on the spread of COVID-19 and that there is insufficient scientific evidence. An important argument is the permeability of the mouth caps. A virus particle is about 80 - 150 nanometers in diameter. This is too small to be blocked by the dust (s) of the mask. Until recently, WHO also believed that it is not necessary for healthy people to wear a mask. On 5 June, the WHO issued an adapted opinion for countries with virus spread. In the new message, the WHO recommends that healthy people should also use masks or medical masks in places where keeping a distance of 1.5 meters is difficult, such as in public transport, shops and in a busy environment.
Effectiveness not demonstrated
Based on some recent studies of wearing face masks in families with a person with COVID-19, WHO indirectly concludes that wearing a mouth mask / mask may help protect against infection.
The conclusion in the WHO document 'Advice on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19 interim guidance 5 June 2020', which was compiled on the basis of scientific literature and interviews with experts, reads: “At present, scientific do not investigate direct evidence that wearing mouth masks is effective in reducing the spread of viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections, including for the SARS-COV-2 virus. ”
At present, there is no direct evidence from scientific research that wearing mouth masks is effective in reducing the spread of the coronavirus
WHO
A 2012 review in the journal Respiratory Virus, which examined seventeen studies looking at the effect of mouth and medical mask wearing on the spread of influenza virus, concludes that there is no protective effect. Data from such studies for SARS-COV-2 are unknown.
https://www.hpdetijd.nl/2020-06-12/a...jde-mondkapje/