Camera crews show Public Health Minister Rafael Sánchez Cárdenas distributing disposable facial masks during the start of the Ministry intervention in Villa Juana, a low-income barrio in the National District.
Sánchez Cárdenas is shown giving a facial mask with instructions “use that one,” telling people those were better than the bandanas many women were using, as reported on N Digital. The masks that are being distributed are designed to be for one-time use for no more than two hours and are not washable.
The public health minister was accompanied by a large crew of followers, including an agglomeration of press.
As explained online, surgical masks can’t protect against infection with Sars-CoV-2. Not only does the mask not filter out smaller aerosol particles, but air leakage also occurs through the sides of the mask as people inhale.
The Thursday effort was lead by military and public works trucks disinfecting the city streets. It will be taking place through Saturday in the National District and Santo Domingo province (Greater Santo Domingo) and then moves on to San Cristóbal, Monte Plata and La Romana next week.
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El Caribe
15 May 2020