Universal Use of Facemasks Against Coronavirus Disease-19 in Nigeria: A Necessity or an Overreaction?

Abstract

The upsurge of cases of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) worldwide has compelled many countries including Nigeria to recommend mandatory use of facemask to their citizen in public places to limit the spread of this virus. Although to date, there is no documented evidence that facemask use by the public protected healthy people against COVID-19. Nevertheless, the World Health Organization encourages the general public to wear a non-medical mask in public settings in areas of community transmission. This paper reports on the current mandatory use of facemask by the Nigerian public and highlights the implications of such use.