Health boss says masks could give 'false confidence'
A health boss for the West Midlands has said wearing face masks could give people "false confidence" in protecting themselves against coronavirus.
Dr Sue Ibbotson, Public Health England's director in the West Midlands, told a West Midlands Combined Authority briefing yesterday that their view is there is not "widespread benefit of mass masking".
She said: "Of course face masks play an important role in clinical settings, it's vital in these settings.
"Looking simply at the science, there is little evidence for the wide spread benefit of being protected against other peoples' infections when we're doing our usual activities such as a shop at the supermarket.
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"The most effective things we can do, wash our hands frequently, cough into a tissue or an elbow, observe social distancing.
"We will continue to review our advice based on the evidence that's out there.
"People may feel more confidence, but there are other things here such as a false confidence, if we are all wearing masks, do we feel like we are as protected so we don't go in as hard on other measures such as social distancing."
Dr Ibbotson added: "The evidence is better in terms of protecting other people rather than protecting ourselves.
"Our view of the evidence is there isn't widespread evidence of widespread benefit of mass masking."
