On October 3, 2020, Tvalsazrisi.ge published an interview with a therapist and astropsychologist Nona Aghdgomelashvili, with the headline “You have to know, face masks have categorical contraindications! – Physician Nona Aghdgomelashvili’s alert”. In the article, the respondent talks about the negative sides of the usage of face masks and notes, that face masks can cause Carbon dioxide intoxication to a person. According to her, face masks maintain their effectiveness only in a sterile environment and not in, for example, public transport.
The claim that face masks can cause Carbon dioxide intoxication or that their usage is effective only in sterile areas is not true. According to the World Health Organization, face mask, if used precisely and completely in accordance with the recommendations, is one of the effective means of protection against the virus and has an important role in the prevention of its spread.
Similar unverified claims about face masks are actively being spread across social media and various media outlets. According to the World Health Organization, wearing the face masks made in compliance with recommendations for the long-term doesn’t cause piling critical amounts of Carbon dioxide and therefore, there is no danger of intoxication.
Medical face masks don’t have an only surgical purpose; they create a barrier for the particles, which are spread during sneezing, coughing, and talking.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) recommendations, wearing face masks is extremely necessary in areas of public gatherings, especially at times when it is difficult to implement social distancing measures.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration information, medical face masks are private protection equipment. The administration explains, that their effectiveness depends on their type and proper usage, not giving any specific recommendations that they have to be only worn in a sterile environment.
Who is spreading disinformation?
The interview by Tvalsazrisi.ge is being actively shared on social networks. Among Facebook pages: კორონა აფიორა (“Corona Hoax”) and კორონა მაფია (“Corona Mafia”); according to the crowdtagle searching system, it has 246 shares.
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