Wear homemade masks in public to keep coronavirus away

New Delhi : As India registered a sudden spike in the number of positive coronavirus cases, the Central Government has issued an advisory asking people to wear home-made face masks, especially when they are in a public place or in a contact of a group of people.

"...it is suggested that such people who are not suffering from medical conditions or having breathing difficulties may use the handmade reusable face cover, particularly when they step out of their house. This will help in protecting the community at large," the ministry said.

Meanwhile, it must be noted that these handmade masks are not for the people working in health sector and also for those who are taking care of a coronavirus patient.

The government has also put out detailed steps for a do-it-yourself face mask that can be made out of a piece of clean cloth available at home.

"There must not be a sharing of face covers and a face cover must be used by only one individual. So, in a family of several members, each member should have a separate face cover," the advisory says.

The announcement from the government comes a day after United Nations advised Americans to do the same and cover their faces with masks everytime they visit a public place.

Health Ministry Joint Secretary Lav Aggarwal had said on March 31: "As far as masks are concerned, first, we have requested people that not everyone needs to wear masks...if you are not well and want to go to a hospital that is the time you definitely should wear a mask. We are primarily focusing on social distancing."