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Medical Pearls from the Internet Medical Association


This letter to the editor argues that the widespread recommendation for the lay public to use face masks is premature and unvalidated.

Comment: Although the hypothesis is reasonable, questions remain regarding whether or not widespread use of face masks by the general public has a net benefit in terms of public health. While it does prevent droplet transmission, the side-effects and unintended consequences have not been thoroughly considered.



BMJ 2020;369:m2017    (retrieved Jun, 2020). There are currently 1090 pearls in the database. While every attempt has been made to ensure accuracy, mistakes can and do occur. Use databank at your own risk. All pearls © 2024 by the Internet Medical Association. Click Here to view more medical pearls.