Face masks are only meant for people sneezing and coughing- Minister

The use of face masks is only meant for people sneezing, coughing, and wanting to protect others around him or her, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Olorunnimbe Mamora has said.

He made this statement during his appearance on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily.

The Minister said the rush to buy face masks was highly unnecessary. He said it was only relevant when sneezing was rampant.

“You see, the face mask that people are struggling to buy, I tell you it’s not very necessary where you don’t have a candidate (I won’t say a patient now) that is not manifesting symptoms – sneezing.”

“The face mask is really meant for a person who is sneezing, coughing, and wanting to protect others around him/her," Mamora said.

Explaining who needs the face masks more, the Minister said it was the health professionals.

“That is what the face mask is for, and for people who are in caregiving centres. These are the people that need face masks. People should not allow themselves to be exploited unduly,” he added.

It can be recalled that the Nigerian government had confirmed the first case of coronavirus on Friday, involving an Italian citizen who arrived in the country for a brief business visit on Tuesday.

The patient was said to have traveled to Ogun State where he took ill and reported at a hospital but tested negative to malaria.