The US Surgeon General urges public to wear facemasks, championing the act will promote freedom during the coronavirus pandemic.
Dr. Jerome Adams challenged the idea that face coverings inhibit freedom, and said that instead it will slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus and reopen the economy.
In a tweet Sunday morning, Surgeon General Adams wrote, “Some feel face coverings infringe on their freedom of choice- but if more wear them, we’ll have MORE freedom to go out.”
He further claims that facemasks lead to less asymptomatic spread of the virus, which in turn leads to more places opening sooner.
“Exercise and promote your freedom by choosing to wear a face covering!” He said in his tweet, which includes a photo of him wearing a mask.
Public health officials continue to emphasize the importance of wearing facemasks amid the country’s reopening, stressing that people without symptoms may unknowingly transmit Covid-19.
The face coverings are to ensure the prevention of people infecting others with the virus.
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been recommending the use of face coverings since April, especially general public in places where social distancing is difficult to maintain.
The CDC announced their findings during this time, citing growing evidence that people could spread coronavirus without feeling sick.
The World Health Organization also recommended this month that the public wear fabric masks in areas where there continues to be intense spread of the novel coronavirus.
They also suggest that everyone working in health care wear medical masks for their entire shift while in clinical areas.
Dr. Adams’ recent Tweet contradicts his earlier statement in February that masks are “not effective” in preventing coronavirus transmissions, and urged people to stay at home when they are sick and washing their hands thoroughly with soap and water.
Even so, the plea to wear facemasks has met resistance in some parts of the country.