The standard on the use of masks in Portugal is now available

In the face of the pandemic caused by the new coronavirus, the debate over the use of masks has been a hot spot. On the one hand, those who defend that they should not be used and, on the other hand, those who believe that the masks are an important PPE (personal protective equipment).

Today, Marta Temido, Minister of Health, referred to the fact that the use of a social mask “can be considered” in the context of closed spaces and with many people. Standard now available online.

The use of masks as a complementary measure to limit the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the community has been considered differently by different countries and international organizations.
It should be noted that there are three types of masks:

Respirators (Filtering Face Piece, FFP), personal protective equipment for health professionals, in accordance with the DGS 007/2020 Standard;
Surgical masks, a device that prevents the transmission of infectious agents from people who wear the mask to other people;
Non-surgical, community or social masks, devices of different textured materials, intended for the general population, not certified.

The General Directorate of Health (DGS) had already recommended Use of surgical masks for all health professionals., People with respiratory symptoms and people who enter and circulate in health institutions, to combat COVID-19.
Guideline 019/20201 also defined that the most vulnerable people, namely the elderly (over 65 years old), with chronic diseases and immunosuppressed states, should wear surgical masks every time they leave home.
Now, through information nº 009/2020 of 04/13/2020 it is said that it should be consider the use of masks by all people who stay indoors with several people, as an additional protection measure against social distance, hand hygiene and respiratory etiquette.

It should be remembered that the use of masks by the population implies knowledge and mastery of placement, use and removal techniques, and that their use should in no way lead to the abandonment of fundamental measures such as social distance and hygiene. of people. hands
According to the recommendations of the WHO, the ECDC, the DGS reports:

The use of masks by anyone in closed indoor spaces with multiple people (supermarkets, pharmacies, shops or commercial establishments, public transport, etc.) should be considered.
The use of masks in the community is an additional measure of protection, so it does not dispense with compliance with the rules of social distance, respiratory etiquette, hand hygiene and the use of physical barriers, so its appropriate use must be guaranteed.
In order to ensure proper prioritization of the use of surgical masks, non-surgical masks (community or social use) may be considered for community use in the situations identified here.

Use of skins in the community