New Yorkers called to cover their faces with masks or clothes while walking

The authorities of New York urge all residents to wear medical or homemade protective masks on the street. Such measures are designed to control the spread of coronavirus. This is with reference to the statement of the mayor of Bill de Blasio Politico.

The country's largest city is currently joining Los Angeles, urging all its residents to cover their faces while on the street. A similar guide for the whole country plans to release and US President Donald Trump. At the same time, specialists from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention claim that healthy people do not need masks.

De Blasio emphasized that New Yorkers do not have to look for masks of a professional level, since such masks are more likely needed by healthcare workers. So ordinary citizens can make masks themselves, for example, from a scarf.

“It doesn't have to be fashionable,” de Blasio said.

Coronavirus spread rapidly throughout New York City, the number of people infected in the city as of April 2 was 49. The virus killed at least 707 people.

The new guidelines are designed to prevent the spread of the disease by people who may already be infected with COVID-19 but have no symptoms, city officials said.

It is noted that it is not yet clear whether wearing a mask can protect a healthy person from becoming infected with the virus. However, some studies suggest that this may have some effect on the likelihood of contracting the virus.

“We advise New Yorkers to wear a mask when you go out and around other people,” said de Blasio.

He emphasized that putting a mask on, you protect others.

“Many people on the street right at this moment do not even realize that they are infected with a virus,” he said.

City officials also cited a recent study from Singapore. It provides additional evidence that people without symptoms can spread the disease.

Recall that New Yorkers can still go to work only if their field of activity is the most important for the city or country, they are forced to avoid crowds and keep a distance of almost 2 meters from each other. Wearing a protective mask does not replace or cancel all other preventive measures.

On the subject: A New Yorker was in intensive care with a coronavirus, but survived: how it was

De Blasio defended the city, explaining why there were previously no recommendations for wearing masks. He said that in just the past 48 hours, the Department of Health has come to the conclusion that this could help stop the spread of the virus.

The mayor and his chief assistants first told New Yorkers that the spread of the virus is possible only through close contact, and in public places the risk of infection is low. But this information was incorrect. As it turned out, they downplayed the likelihood of transmission of the virus through surfaces and from people with an asymptomatic form of the disease.

“There was simply no evidence,” said Bill de Blasio. "For the first time in recent days, studies have been conducted that have actually begun to show some meaningful evidence of asymptomatic transmission."

He also said that he did not want people to feel “too self-confident,” thinking that they were safe in the mask and should not take other precautions. He also noted that he was worried about the depletion of masks for medical workers.

Also on April 2, Bill de Blasio announced that on school grounds where children are given food while schools are closed, they will now offer food for adults. Anyone has the right to receive food free of charge at the appointed time in 435 places in the city.