Irish WHO Chief advises people to wear face mask at home

DUBLIN: The World Health Organisation (WHO) reminded people to consider wearing face masks at home and limiting the number of people in the kitchen for Christmas.

The leading Irish WHO official, Dr. Michael J Ryan, says people have to be very cautious when dealing with elderly people at home, and he also advised people to go for a walk instead of gathering around the television. Dr. Ryan, who is also the executive director of the World Health Organization, was speaking ahead of a virtual ceremony. He is the winner of this year’s The Bar of Ireland Human Rights Award for 2020.

Dr. Ryan said he does not disagree with the government’s decision on how to simplify lockdown procedures this Christmas. “When people start to mix again, the disease numbers may start to rise,” he said.

“The question is what happens then. Do we go back to another wave of disease or do we have a more Asian outcome where we have much better control at a lower level and we can maintain that control over time, to the point at which large numbers of people get vaccinated. People and the scientists and the Government deserve some credit for that,” Dr. Ryan said.

However, regarding Christmas, Dr. Ryan said there needed to be “an open discussion” between the Government and communities. He said that elderly people or people with underlying conditions should be well aware of the risks associated. “It is also important the young people in those situations understand their responsibilities to reduce those risks to those older individuals or those with underlying conditions,” he said. He advises students to help their mother in the kitchen or just take a walk.

The home has an atmosphere where different activities take place at the same time. But the moments that people spend together at home are dangerous. We need to see if we can find a way to reduce that risk. That is why it is advisable to wear a face mask to ensure safety even at home, he said. Hands should be washed at least every three hours. Infection can be avoided if everyone pays attention – he said.

“There is over 250 vaccine candidates out there in the system. We have 50 in clinical trials. We have nine more in clinical trials in addition to the three that have proven efficacy. We have real tools now potentially at our disposal,” he said.

Dr. Ryan said it is important to combat misinformation about the vaccine through fast and reliable information.

“It couldn’t be more important than in the case of vaccination. It will be a tragedy, a true tragedy, if we end up with efficacious vaccines that are available but that people don’t want to take. That would be a tragedy,” Dr. Ryan said.