APROPOS the two letters ‘COVID-19 & profiteers’ (March 3). As a physician, I would like to urge the community not to rely on the use of surgical masks for prevention from COVID-19.

Surgical masks are only helpful in preventing people, who have already contracted the coronavirus disease, from spreading it to others. If people are well, they do not need to wear a surgical mask as there is little evidence supporting the widespread use of surgical masks, in healthy people, to prevent virus transmission in public. Instead, the people should practice good hygiene to prevent its spread.

The public can do this by: 1) washing hands with soap and water before and after meals and especially after using toilet; 2) avoiding contact (as far as possible) with others including touching, hugging etc. And 3) using a tissue while coughing and sneezing. If a tissue is not available then we should use our elbow or hand to cover ourselves while doing so.

Dr Nighat Faruqi
Lahore

Published in Dawn, March 6th, 2020