Should I wear a mask and when will it be safe to hug my son?

QI am still reading mixed messages about masks. What about wrapping a scarf around my face? Will that protect me?

AThere is no dispute about the vital importance of face masks to protect healthcare workers, who might be in close contact with many people with Covid-19.

In their cases, masks may be worn with other protective gear such as gowns, visors and gloves.

But it’s true, the messages are mixed when it comes to whether they should be worn by everyone, while out and about. Advice varies by country.

They have long been a common sight in many Asian cities.

But the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Austria, and some French towns have made decisions to make face maskwearing mandatory in public.

And, as of last week, American health chiefs began recommending people to wear a cloth face mask – or even scarf around the face – when outside the home.

They’ve also been clear that paper surgical masks, and the tight fitting respirator style masks, should not be worn by the public, as these need to be reserved for healthcare workers.

The new recommendation is not for self-protection, but to prevent people inadvertently spreading the coronavirus, as many people can have it without symptoms.

There is no good evidence that, for the man on the street, wearing a mask will protect against catching anything.

And that’s why, at the moment, our health guidelines aren’t recommending them outside of a healthcare setting, though they do say they can be helpful if caring for someone who is sick at home, too.

Some experts do suggest that, possibly, they might help reduce the risk of getting infected while in public places a little, if used correctly, and alongside other tried and tested approaches like handwashing and distancing.

But people don’t use the masks properly – the moment you fiddle with it, it could be contaminated, and raise the risk of infection. In this way, they can simply give the wearer a false sense of security.

QI had Covid-19 symptoms last month but feel better now. My question is, when will it be safe to hug my five-yearold son?

ANow would be a good time. People are most contagious with the virus for a few days before and during the illness when they have the most symptoms.

Recent data shows that there is very little chance of passing on the virus after the first week of symptoms.

If you have prolonged coughing, or sneezing, or if your nose is running then you should be more careful – but a month after symptoms have subsided, even if there is lingering tiredness, the risk would be a negligible.

Tiredness has been a dominant symptom of Covid-19 in many patients, and can persist, even after the virus has passed.

Handwashing and strict hygiene at home remains essential for all of you.

QI’m sure I’ve had the coronavirus – my husband was so sick he ended up in hospital, so was tested. And I had all the symptoms. Now we’re better, do we have to be as careful with handwashing and social distancing?

AEven after the infection, it’s important, at the moment, to keep up the hand hygiene and social distancing. It is possible someone with classic symptoms actually has not had Covid-19.

Of course it’s becoming less likely, as the virus continues to spread, and especially for a close contact of a confirmed case. But it’s still possible, and without a positive test result you can’t be certain.

We also don’t yet know whether people become immune to the virus after being infected. The virus is carried in respiratory droplets from an infected person – these could be on a surface and transferred elsewhere, by hands touching faces or touching other people. You could still spread the virus this way.

By continuing to wash your hands a lot and keep away from others, it breaks this chain of transmission and helps to protect other people.