People wearing masks stand in a line to buy face masks at a drug store in Daegu, South Korea, March 3, 2020. REUTERS/Kim Kyung-Hoon
Globally, positions on the use of face masks by the public to stop the spread of the novel coronavirus have shifted. Early on, the World Health Organisation and some governments, worried that a run on face masks would create a shortage for frontline health workers who needed them, discouraged the use of face masks by people who were neither infected or taking care of COVID-19 patients.
In its March guidance on face masks, the World Health Organisation (WHO) advised: “If you are healthy, you only need to wear a mask if you are taking care of a person with suspected 2019-nCoV infection.”
In subsequent guidance issued on April 6, the WHO said: Wearing a medical mask is one of the prevention measures that can limit the spread of certain respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19. However, the use of a mask alone is insufficient to provide an adequate level of protection, and other measures should also be adopted.
In Zimbabwe, the government has largely adopted the WHO stance, although senior officials, including President Emmerson Mnangagwa, are frequently seen wearing masks during public events.
Other governments, including the United States, discouraged the use of face masks by the public, arguing that hoarding of the masks would create shortages for health workers working to treat COVID-19 patients.
However, as the pandemic continues to spread, many governments are changing their positions on the matter.
Here is a list of some countries’ positions on the use of face masks:
| Country | Position on face mask |
| South Korea | The government took an early decision to increase mask production, ban exports and increase distribution, first among the medical, quarantine and safety sectors, and then to the general public. After a vigorous testing and contact tracing drive, South Korea has managed to contain the spread of the coronavirus after reporting its first case on January 20. |
| Kenya | On April 2, Kenya made it mandatory for travellers to wear face masks in public. Failure will attract a fine of Ksh20,000 (US$190) or six months in jail. |
| Austria | Austria has recorded 13984 cases of Covid-19 and 368 deaths. The country effected hygiene rules for retailers including customers to wear protective masks on the 16th of March 2020. sozialministerium.at/Informationen-zum-Coronavirus/Coronavirus—Fachinformationen.html |
| CZECH Republic | On 18 March 2020, the government made it compulsory for people to wear masks to slow down the spread of COVID-19. Those found violating the directive pay a spot fine of CZK 10 000(USD$399).https://koronavirus.mzcr.cz/prevence-a-ochranne-prostredky/ |
| Slovakia | Slovakia has so far recorded 769 Covid-19 cases and 2 deaths. The country has made it mandatory to wear a mask or cloth that covers the nose and mouth when one is in public placeshttps://www.korona.gov.sk/covid-19-faq.php |
| Singapore | Singapore recorded 2532 Covid-19 cases and 8 deaths. From the 7th of April, it is mandatory in Singapore to use a face mask when one goes out and the government is providing one free reusable mask for residents.https://www.gov.sg/article/stay-home-for-singapore-from-7-april-to-4-may |
| Japan | It is mandatory to wear face masks in public places and the country has also distributed masks to residents free of charge. https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/10200000/000603614.pdf |
| Israel | Israel has recorded 11235 Covid-19 cases and 110 deaths. The government said from 12 April, it will be mandatory for people to wear a mask of anything that covers their mouth and nose when they leave their homes. https://govextra.gov.il/ministry-of-health/corona/corona-virus-en/guidelines/#goingout |
United States of America | The country has recorded 560433 cases of Covid-19 and 22115 deaths. US has not made the use of masks mandatory but the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) has recommended the use of a cloth to cover mouth and nose when around others. |
| Rwanda | The country has not made it compulsory to use face masks but the general public has been increasingly using face masks including homemade masks. Rwanda has recorded 126 Covid 19 cases and no deaths have been recorded yet. |
| South Africa | The country has recorded 2173 cases and 25 deaths. Though the government has not decreed the use of face masks, many people working in critical areas and exempted from the lockdown, are increasingly moving with face masks. |
| Morocco | After recording 120 deaths and 1746 Covid-19 cases, Morocco has become the first country in Africa to make it mandatory to wear face masks. If one violate the law, they are fined US$126 (or 3 months in prison). Masks are sold at a subsidised price of U$0,08 |
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