{"id":21303,"date":"2022-01-14T10:44:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-14T10:44:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/factcheckni.org\/?p=21303"},"modified":"2022-02-26T20:22:48","modified_gmt":"2022-02-26T20:22:48","slug":"covid-19-and-face-masks-coverings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/factcheckni.org\/articles\/explainers\/covid-19-and-face-masks-coverings\/","title":{"rendered":"COVID-19 and face masks\/coverings"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What is the guidance on face coverings in Northern Ireland?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The Northern Ireland Executive announced<\/a> that the use of face coverings in certain indoor settings would become mandatory from 10 August 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The NI Direct website publishes the latest guidance and regulations for the use of face coverings in Northern Ireland<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Separate policies for the use of face coverings in England<\/a>, Wales<\/a>, Scotland<\/a>, and Ireland<\/a> are available. Policies on face coverings in these and other jurisdictions are reviewed on a regular basis and current advice is subject to change.The World Health Organisation (WHO) also publishes advice on mask use<\/a>, along with further guidance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Face masks or face coverings?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There is a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Medical face masks include respirator and surgical masks<\/a>. These are considered to be PPE<\/a> (personal protective equipment), and are primarily for use in health and social care settings<\/a> and some specific work environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The general public, in contrast, are advised to wear face coverings<\/a>. These are most commonly made out of cloth and cover the nose and mouth. They can be secured to the head with ties or straps. They may be manufactured or home made.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To be effective, face coverings need to be worn appropriately. The Irish government has produced guidelines about the proper use of face coverings<\/a> to prevent cross-contamination; this advice is echoed in a shorter document<\/a> from the UK government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Are face coverings effective in protecting against COVID-19?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Royal Society and The British Academy published a joint review of the science of the effectiveness of different face mask types and coverings and behavioural adherence<\/a> in June 2020. It found:<\/p>\n\n\n\n