GENEVA — The World Health Organization on June 5 changed its guidance on wearing masks to curb the transmission of the COVID-19 disease, recommending governments encourage everyone to wear masks in public places.<br /><br />The WHO said evidence from studies in recent weeks showed masks could serve as "a barrier for potentially infectious droplets."<br /><br />The organization had previously said there was not enough evidence to say that healthy people should wear masks.<br /><br />The WHO now recommends wearing masks in public settings such as stores, at work, social or mass gatherings, and in closed settings such as schools or places of worship.<br /><br />The global body also recommends wearing masks in cramped conditions such as slums and refugee camps, and on public transport.<br /><br />To prevent critical resources from being diverted from healthcare workers, the WHO recommends that members of the general public wear fabric or "non-medical" masks.<br /><br />These masks should have at least three layers — an absorbent inner layer, a filter, and an outer layer that does not easily absorb water.
