US surgeon general tells people no to wear masks; not to prepare

U.S. Surgeon General Urges 

People to ‘Stop Buying Masks’

• Masks aren’t effective in preventing spread of virus, he says
  
• FDA allows labs to use tests they develop faster to test virus
  

Bloomberg,
29 February, 2020



The U.S. Surgeon General urged people to “stop buying masks,” saying on Twitter that they’re not effective in preventing the general public from catching coronavirus.
“The best way to protect yourself and your community is with everyday preventive actions, like staying home when you are sick and washing hands with soap and water, to help slow the spread of respiratory illness,” Jerome M. Adams said in a tweet.


Read More: U.S. Holds Off Urging Face-Mask Use But Virus Fears Fan Sellout


He encouraged people to get flu shots, saying fewer flu patients means more resources for fighting the virus.


Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration cleared the way Saturday for some laboratories to conduct diagnostic tests on the virus before an emergency process is fully approved.



The FDA issued guidance to help rapidly expand testing capacity using molecular coronavirus diagnostic examinations. For a period of time while labs submit formal applications, the FDA doesn’t intend to object to the tests for specimen testing, according to a statement.