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You’re right but a lot of people disagree with the WHO on this issue and argue that any protection is better than no protection. It also seems possible that the early advice against mask use, from the US for example, was to stop people panic buying masks that health professionals need.
Some of the above links go into the need to frequently change and sterilise/dispose of masks and you can still dispose of a mask if you’ve made it yourself.
The WHO actually has tips on how to safely put on and remove masks here
One of the above designs essentially creates a pocket for a filter to be held between two pieces of cotton cloth. The filter can be disposed of and the cotton pocket washed and sterilised.
Also, if masks are being recommended to people who are currently in lockdown and sticking to social distancing measures, then their usage is likely to be for short periods of time when going on an essential trip to the supermarket or pharmacy etc.
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The WHO seem to disagree with you about general wearing of masks
Not just the WHO, but also Public Health England, who have advised people against wearing face masks as there is “very little evidence” that they are effective “outside of clinical settings” such as hospitals.
Wearing a face mask if you're a healthcare worker in a hospital makes absolute sense. If you're walking down the street and following current government guidance and aiming not to catch coronavirus, it doesn't.
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Fyoosh
Fox
@jellybaby
The WHO seem to disagree with you about general wearing of masks. There is a shortage of available masks for people in high risk situations, eg healthcare workers.
If you do wear a mask it's important to change it frequently and dispose of used masks so I'm not sure making your own is going to work. I suppose if you can put it through a hot wash?