Face coverings don’t lead to false sense of security, experts claim
WEARING a face covering does not lead to a false sense of security or make people less cautious about hand hygiene, experts have claimed.
Their comments, published in the journal BMJ Analysis, are based on an examination of the scientific evidence available on mask-wearing, in the context of respiratory virus infections.
The researchers say evidence is growing that face coverings can reduce the spread of Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19.
However, they acknowledge the studies they examined are yet to be peer-reviewed and, thus, should be treated with caution.
But the scientists add that based on the limited evidence available, face coverings do not make people care less about the other key measures that the public have been asked to follow to reduce the spread of coronavirus, such as good hand hygiene. Early in the pandemic, the World Health Organisation warned that covering the face could “create a false sense of security that can lead to neglecting other essential measures such as hand hygiene practices”, a type of behaviour that is based on a theory known as “risk compensation”.
But in June, the WHO changed the guidance, advising people to wear masks in public areas, “in light of evolving evidence”. Last week in England, wearing face coverings in indoor spaces, such as shops, shopping centres, banks, takeaway outlets, post offices, sandwich shops and supermarkets, became mandatory.
Dr James Rubin, from the King’s College London’s department of psychological medicine, said: “Many public health bodies are coming to the conclusion that wearing a face covering might help reduce the spread of Sars-CoV-2, and the limited evidence available suggests their use doesn’t have a negative effect on hand hygiene.”
Risk compensation suggests that people adjust their behaviour according to the perceived level of risk, acting more cautiously where they sense greater risk and becoming less careful if they feel more protected.
Experts wondered if wearing a mask would make people less cautious about other coronavirus risk-reducing measures.