A Fake WHO Document

Hind Khoudary

Health

23rd August 2020

The barcode available beside each claim in the post doesn’t exist (socialmedia)

The Claim

Picture: A WHO document that does not recommend wearing a face mask during COVID-19.

News posted on

Emerging story

A picture of an official document that the WHO doesn't recommend wearing a face mask during COVID-19 is circulating online.
This picture circulating claims the following:
1. There is no direct evidence on the effectiveness of universal masking to prevent infection.
2. Health care workers using cotton cloth masks are at an increased risk of influenza-like illness.
3. Wearing a mask may provide the general public with a false sense of security and can be a difficulty in communication.
4. A study of 455 individuals shows that asymptomatic people are not causing infectivity.

Misbar’s Analysis

We didn’t find any publication released by the World Health Organization related to the circulating claim. The barcode available beside each claim in the post doesn’t exist. These are some facts that support the opposite of the circulating claims:

Our investigation found the circulating picture fake. Misbar debunked numerous false and misleading claims about face masks since the beginning of COVID-19.
Misbar debunked numerous false and misleading claims about face masks since the beginning of COVID-19. According to WHO, the use of masks is part of a comprehensive package of the prevention and control measures that can limit the spread of certain respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19. Masks can be used either for the protection of healthy persons (worn to protect oneself when in contact with an infected individual) or for source control (worn by an infected individual to prevent onward transmission).