COVID-19: Use cloth facemasks says Plateau Health Commissioner; “These do not help” – NAFDAC

Plateau State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Ninkom Lar, on Saturday said cloth facemasks can prevent coronavirus disease.

“Surgical masks are very expensive so we recommend that people should use cloth facemasks,” said the Commissioner during a press briefing in Jos, the capital of Plateau State.

“Any kind of cotton material,” said Mr. Lar can be used to prevent the disease.

However, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) on Monday said non-medical facemasks only reduce and not prevent spread of the coronavirus disease.

Director General of the agency, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, in a press statement said self-made or commercial masks or face covers made of clothes fall short of standards.

She said: “Non-medical face masks include self-made or commercial masks or face covers made of clothes, other textiles or other materials such as paper do not prevent you from contracting disease but they have been found to contribute to reducing spread of infections when used widely in conjunction with other measures.

“Such measures include social distancing, not touching the face, eyes or mouth, washing of hands with soap for 20 seconds or use of alcohol based hand sanitizers.”