WHO recommends against face masks for children below age 5

Editor's Note

The World Health Organization (WHO) on August 21 recommended that children in the community setting under age 5 not wear face masks as a preventive measure against COVID-19.

Other recommendations include:

• For those aged 6 to 11 years, there should be a risk-based approach that considers factors such as,  intensity of local transmissions, a child’s ability to comply, and whether they live with at-risk adults.
• Adolescents aged 12 years and older should follow face mask guidance for adults.
• Face masks should not be required for any child with developmental disorders, disabilities, or other health conditions that could interfere with wearing a face mask.
• Face shields should not be considered equivalent to face masks with respect to respiratory droplet protection and/or source control.

Because of the limited evidence on use of face masks in children for COVID-19 and other respiratory diseases, including transmission of COVID-19 in children at specific ages, the formulation of policies by national authorities should be guided by following overarching public health and social principles, WHO says.