A reality check on the use of face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong

Despite the rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) into a pandemic, an ‘east-west’ divide remains between the recommendations of different health authorities on the use of face masks in the community [1,2]. We respectfully differ from the WHO recommendation on its effectiveness [3]. In our opinion, mass masking in the community is one of the key measures that controls transmission during the outbreak in Hong Kong and China. Moreover, it would be futile to convince individuals who experienced the SARS or swine flu outbreaks, not to wear face masks for protection.