America’s top doctor is begging people to stop panic-buying face masks, fearing a shortage could cause an even bigger medical threat.
“Seriously people STOP BUYING MASKS!” US Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams complained on Twitter.
“They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”
Adams insisted that “everyday preventive actions” were the “best way to protect yourself,” listing “staying home when you are sick and washing hands with soap and water” and seeking help if you are sick.
“Get your #FluShot- fewer flu patients = more resources for #COVID19,” he said of wanting to be able to prioritize the new virus that experts warn could become a pandemic.
He also addressed potential hate crimes over the virus, which started in the Chinese city of Wuhan.
“Diseases can make anyone sick regardless of their race or ethnicity. People of Asian descent, including Chinese Americans, are not more likely to get COVID19 than any other American,” he stressed.
