PARIS, Jan. 23 (Reuters) – Passengers on public transport systems should avoid talking to each other or on the phone to minimize the risk of spreading the coronavirus, said the French National Academy of Medicine.
“The mandatory use of masks in public transport, where social distance is not possible, must be accompanied by a very simple care: avoid talking and making calls,” said the academy in a note.
Academy member Patrick Berche said on BFM TV on Saturday that if there were only three people in a subway car, there would be no problem, but if you were just an inch away from the next person, it made sense not to talk or talk on the phone .
“It is not an obligation, it is a recommendation,” he said.
The academy is not an official advisory body. It can answer government questions, but it can also issue recommendations, which sometimes go against official policy.
The academy – founded in 1820 – criticized a recent government recommendation to wear only surgical masks in public, rather than fabric masks.
“The proposal to tighten regulations (on masks) is based on a precautionary principle, but it lacks scientific proof,” said the academy.
He said that fabric or homemade masks were effective against the spread of the coronavirus, as long as they were used correctly and that most infections occurred in situations where people took off the masks.
“This change in the recommendations on a practice with which the entire population has already become familiar, risks arousing misunderstandings and may revive doubts about the soundness of official policies,” said the academy. (Reporting by Geert De Clercq; Editing by Alex Richardson)
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