The World Health Organisation (WHO) has updated its guidance on the use of masks by the public.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said governments should encourage people to wear masks in shops, on public transport, and areas where social distancing is not possible.
Speaking at a virtual briefing, he said people aged 60 and over, or those with underlying health issues, should wear medical masks in situations where they could not keep to social distancing guidelines.
Dr. Tedros stressed that masks are not a substitute for both hand hygiene and social distancing.
Previous advice from the WHO said there was no evidence to say masks protected healthy people from respiratory infections.
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