COVID-19 prevention.

APROPOS the two letters 'COVID-19 and profiteers' (March 3). As a physician, I would like to urge the community not to rely on the use of surgical masks for prevention from COVID-19.

Surgical masks are only helpful in preventing people, who have already contracted the coronavirus disease, from spreading it to others. If people are well, they do not need to wear a surgical mask as there is little evidence supporting the widespread use of surgical masks, in healthy people, to prevent virus transmission in public. Instead, the people should practice good hygiene to prevent its...