Why Wearing a Face Mask Is Encouraged in Asia, but Shunned in the U.S. [View all]

https://time.com/5799964/coronavirus-face-mask-asia-us/

"Joseph Tsang, an infectious disease specialist who also worked as a consultant for the city’s Hospital Authority, says the purpose of wearing a mask is two-fold. “Wearing a mask is not just for protecting yourself from getting infected, but also minimizing the chance of potential infection harboring in your body from spreading to people around you,” he tells TIME."

"He also says that the role of a face mask may be especially important in the epidemic due to the nature of the virus. Patients with COVID-19 often have mild or even no symptoms, and some researchers believe it can also be transmitted when patients are asymptomatic—meaning patients can be contagious and don’t know they’re sick."

"Hui adds that the lack of solid evidence supporting the effectiveness of masks against the virus is no reason to dismiss its use, because there may never be definitive scientific proof. A properly controlled study would be impossible to conduct ethically, he explains. “You can’t randomize people to not wear a mask, and some to wear a mask, and then expose them all to the virus,” he says."
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"Why Telling People They Don’t Need Masks Backfired...
To help manage the shortage, the authorities sent a message that made them untrustworthy"

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/17/opinion/coronavirus-face-masks.html