Many people believe that to prevent pandemics, people must wear face masks continuously. However, is this concept correct?
On the afternoon of January 31, the Ministry of Health and WHO experts held a press conference to inform about the situation of corona virus pneumonia in Vietnam, including the supply and price issue of face masks – a commodity that is being popular with many people. search and increase prices in recent days.
Talking to the press, Mr. Nguyen Tu Hieu – Deputy Director of the Department of Medical Equipment and Works, Ministry of Health, said that the ministry has not had any support for pandemic prevention equipment for China or set the price at Pharmacies.
The Ministry of Health conducts a press conference to inform about outbreaks caused by corona virus. Photo: Quang Duc.
However, the production process has difficulty because after Tet, many workers in the units have not returned to work. On January 31, the ministry sent the next dispatch to the units, proposing to take the initiative in production. Some places have rescheduled operations after Tet from the 10th (lunar calendar) to 7th (lunar calendar) to meet the domestic demand for face masks.
In addition, the Medical Equipment and Works Department also instructs production units to be responsible for price stabilization, not to sell to speculative entities, gather goods to increase prices or export to other countries. The units must ensure the supply of medical facilities.
“It is recommended that businesses improve their responsibilities, business ethics, do not increase prices, ensure market stability in the current period of pandemic prevention”, Mr. Hieu said.
He informed that the department had requested authorities, market management teams of provinces and cities to coordinate inspection, supervision, and sanction to avoid excessive price hikes, especially for face masks. The department also received information that the market management team was working to ensure the price of this item.
In terms of production capacity, Mr. Hieu said that Vietnam now has more than 30 units, according to incomplete assessment, units to meet domestic demand. The lack of face masks occurs due to the situation of gathering goods and people’s psychology.
At the meeting, Assoc.
“Wearing face masks to prevent respiratory disease is very good, but we have to determine how much, what risks, cases, when to use them,” he stressed.
Mr. Phu said that at present, the pandemic has not spread strongly in the community, people should use face masks in places where there is a high risk of transmission such as when traveling by public transport, to the hospital. Ordinary people just need to use a normal medical face mask, not necessarily use an N95 face mask, even can use a daily wash cloth face mask.
The Ministry of Health recommends that only those who take care and treat patients and go into an pandemic will use N95 face masks and wear special protective gear. People should not be too confused. Of course, Mr. Phu asserted that the use of face masks was very important. In the absence of a face mask, people should use their hands to cover their mouths when coughing, sneezing, avoiding the case that they carry corona virus and then infect others
