As the number of COVID-19 cases rises in Australia, some Chinese-Australians are calling for health authorities to encourage more healthy people to wear face masks in public spaces.
The from the Department of Health states that surgical face masks “are only helpful in preventing people who have coronavirus disease from spreading it to others”, and that .
Amid a commercial shortage, the federal government has secured an additional 54 million face masks to help protect medical professionals working to stop the spread of the outbreak.
The advice regarding masks is different in China, where the recommends people wear disposable face masks in high-risk areas, even if they are showing no symptoms of the virus.
People wearing protective face masks are seen at Brisbane International Airport in Brisbane, Friday, January 31, 2020. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt) Source: AAP
The commission specifies that "wearing the masks in a scientific way will prevent the spread of respiratory diseases, which helps both those with the masks and also the general public".
On Thursday, for the first time since the outbreak first erupted in the central city of Wuhan in December, while recording 34 infections from travellers arriving from abroad.
The differing advice has prompted members of Australia's Chinese community to form a calling for health authorities in the ACT to "encourage" people to wear face masks.
“We strongly request the health authority to issue guidance encouraging people to wear masks if they are willing to,” the petition, which has received more than 350 signatures, states.
“Currently the instruction is only sick people should wear masks. This singles out those who do wear masks in public areas and/or activities involving close contact, and potentially subjects them to discrimination.
“Many people have managed to source masks despite the supply shortage, but hesitate to use them because of the dominating perspective that wearing a mask implies sickness.”
Bing Yang, a Chinese community member in Melbourne, believes that as the initial outbreak occurred in China, many Chinese Australians immersed themselves in news from that country and had prepared themselves for an outbreak in Australia.
“We Chinese Australians have witnessed the severity of the coronavirus outbreak in China," she says.
"Thus we are more alert than other Australians."
Canberra resident Anna Chang believes that there are different views on wearing face masks which stem from cultural differences.
“In Australian or western culture, only sick people wear masks, a cultural concept which is hard to change.
"If part of the population already has masks at home, we should encourage them to take effective measures to protect themselves, which in the same time will help to prevent the big outbreak within the community."
What do the experts say?
Infectious diseases specialist and paediatrician Professor Robert Booy believes that people with sicknesses can reduce transmission and protect medical professionals by wearing masks.
However, he says that there are risks associated with wearing masks for healthy people.
He says if the mask becomes wet, which usually occurs after wearing it for more than 30 minutes, it may increase the risk of infection.
"If well people use masks they are at risk of actually catching the virus if the mask becomes wet," he says.
Professor Ian Henderson, director of the Institute for Molecular Bioscience at the University of Queensland, holds a similar opinion.
“[Masks] may be worn inappropriately, and they can promote touching of the face, all of which give rise to a higher risk of infection.
“Indeed, they may give a false sense of security.”
Professor Bruce Thompson, Dean of Health at Swinburne University, believes that the advice from the Australian Department of Health and Chief Medical Officer is correct, saying that “panic buying” of masks is affecting the supply to the hospitals where they are most needed.
Sydneysider Fen Peng is is a frontline nurse. She is urging the public not to stock up on masks.
She says she's seen some retainers in Sydney’s eastern suburbs unboxing and selling masks individually for as high as $20.
"It is terrible, not only the high price but also [mixed advice about] whether it's safe."
Dr Di Yu from the University of Queensland's Diamantina Institute says that under the circumstances that there is a shortage of masks, priority must be given to medical professionals and those who are actually infected.
"Wearing a mask is only a small part of your protection. Other measures such as reducing gatherings and keeping hygiene especially on the hands, are more vital for containing the spread."
The Department of Health suggests that the way to prevent the spread of coronavirus is practising good hand and sneeze/cough hygiene and keeping your distance from others when you are sick is the best defence against most viruses.
At the time of publication, only people who have recently travelled from overseas or have been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case and experienced symptoms within 14 days are advised to be tested.
If you believe you may have contracted the virus, call your doctor, don’t visit, or contact the national Coronavirus Health Information Hotline on 1800 020 080.
If you are struggling to breathe or experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
