How do masks protect us from viruses? 2:44
(CNN) - Refusing to wear a face mask during the covid-19 pandemic should be as socially unacceptable as drunk driving or driving without wearing a seat belt, the president of the United Kingdom's Royal Society said on Tuesday.
Venki Ramakrishnan called on everyone to cover their faces in public, particularly in closed public spaces, pointing to new evidence suggesting that the covers can protect both the user and those around them.
Ramakrishnan said people in the UK were "skeptical" about the benefits of wearing face covers, noting that the country was "far behind" other countries when it came to wearing face covers, with one orientation and inconsistent policies.
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"The public has started to wash their hands and distance themselves, but remains skeptical about facial masks," Ramakrishnan said in a statement.
"You just need to go on public transportation, where they're supposed to be mandatory, to see how many people are ignoring this new rule based on the growing evidence that wearing a mask will help protect others, and may even protect you."
According to the UK government's advice for England, facial covers are required on public transport or when visiting hospitals.
“It used to be quite normal to have quite a few drinks and drive home, and it was also normal to drive without seat belts. Today, both would be considered antisocial and the use of facial masks in public should be considered in the same way, "he added.
Venki Ramakrishnan said the UK lags behind other countries in terms of wearing masks and having clear guidance on facial coatings.
Ramakrishnan's comments come as new evidence from the Royal Society points to the benefits of face masks.
The first report, an updated one from the Royal Society's Data Assessment and Learning Initiative for Viral Epidemics (DELVE), found that universal use of the masks could prevent transmission of the virus, and also pointed to new evidence suggesting that Facial coatings could provide protection to the user.
The second report of the Royal Society SET-C (Science in Emergencies Tasking - COVID-19) group examined the effectiveness of different types of masks and covers, and studied behavioral factors that limit adherence to mask use, including public understanding of the virus spread, risk perception, effectiveness of public messages, trust and barriers to wearing masks.
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The researchers found that the UK was "behind other countries" in terms of policy implementation and use of face covers, with masks worn in the UK at around 25% in April, compared to 83.4% in Italy, 65.8% in the United States and 63.8% in Spain.
The researchers noted that while other countries, such as the United Kingdom, did not have an “established mask-wearing culture,” they had clear policies on face coatings.
"People may rightly ask why they have to wear a mask on a train but not in a store. If the orientation is inconsistent, people will follow their own preferences, "said Ramakrishnan.
"The message has not been clear enough, so perhaps people don't really understand the benefits or are convinced of them," he added.
Many health officials around the world say that we must wear masks if we are to keep the economy open and save tens of thousands of lives.
In June, the World Health Organization updated its recommendations, urging nations to encourage the general public to wear cloth masks in areas where the intense spread of the new coronavirus continues, and for all health workers and caregivers to wear Medical masks throughout their shift while in clinical areas.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now says everyone "should wear a cloth face covering when they have to go out in public, for example, to the grocery store or to pick up other necessities," and in June. The University of Washington Institute for Health Measurement and Assessment said that if 95% of Americans wore face masks in public, it could prevent 33,000 deaths by Oct. 1.
- CNN's Holly Yan and Jacqueline Howard contributed to this report.
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