Leave face masks for people who need them, health experts say

YOU CAN COUNT ON, WITH WRAL

NEWS.

>>> WE HAVE SEEN THEM, PEOPLE

IN MASKS HOPING TO PROTECT

THEMSELVES FROM CORONAVIRUS.

BUT THE MESSAGE IS COMING LOUD

AND CLEAR TO STOP BUYING THEM.

LIVE ON YOUR SIDE MONICA IS

HERE TO EXPLAIN WHY.

>> THESE ARE SOME OF THE MASKS

YOU HAVE PROBABLY SEEN.

THEY DO OFFER PRODUCTION BUT THE

CERTAIN GROUPS OF PEOPLE NEED

THAT MUCH MORE THAN WHAT ONE

EXPERT CALLS THE WORRIED WELL.

[ MUSIC ] WE'VE SEEN LONG

LINES, EMPTY STORE SHELVES AND

ONLINE, MANY SITES NOW SAY

FACEMASKS ARE COMICAL,

CURRENTLY UNAVAILABLE.

IT IS PART OF EFFORTS TO

PREPARE AFTER THAT DIRE WARNING

FROM THE CDC.

GUT, HEALTH EXPERTS, THE WORLD

HEALTH ORGANIZATION AND NOW THE

SURGEON GENERAL ARE SURE ARE

STRESSING FOR PEOPLE NOT TO

PANIC AND TO STOP HOARDING

FACEMASKS.

>> WE NEED TO CONSERVE THE

MASKS FOR THOSE WHO REALLY NEED

THEM.

>> DOCTOR DAVID WEBER IS WITH

UNC HOSPITALS AND THE MEDICAL

DIRECTOR OF INFECTION

PREVENTION.

>> WHAT WE CALL IT AN 95

RESPIRATOR.

>> HE SAID FACEMASKS ARE NEEDED

FOR MEDICAL STAFF AND THOSE

CURRENTLY SICK.

BE AT THE FLU, CANCER OR

SOMETHING ELSE.

>> THE WORRIED WELL, I WOULD

SAY THEY REALLY SHOULD NOT BE

WEARING THESE MASKS.

MOST PEOPLE HAVE A SUPPLY AND

EVEN IN A WORST-CASE SCENARIO,

THERE IS A GOVERNMENT STOCKPILE

DESIGNED FOR BIO THREATS AND

OTHER AGENTS THAT DOES HAVE

MASKS AND VENTILATORS AND OTHER

MATERIALS IN THEM AND THAT

COULD BE RELEASED IN A TRUE

NATIONAL EMERGENCY.

>> AS THE SURGEON GENERAL

TWEETED, SERIOUSLY, PEOPLE,

STOP BUYING MASKS!

THE GOAL OF THOSE BOTTLES OF

WATER SO MANY HAD TO HAVE AFTER

THE THREAT OF A HURRICANE.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH ALL

THOSE MASKS?

>> SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT

ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE LOVED

ONES THAT HAVE A SICKNESS AND

THEY REALLY NEED THEM LIKE

PEOPLE WITH CANCER.

MANY PEOPLE WE KNOW WILL IGNORE

THE PLEA, THEY WILL BUY THEM

ANYWAY, THE HEALTH EXPERTS SAY

MEDICAL MASKS LIKE THIS AND

THIS THAT ARE SO THIN ARE

MINIMAL PRODUCTION FROM

AIRBORNE PARTICLES, THE BEST

PRODUCTION YOU WOULD HAVE TO

HAVE ONE OF THESE RESPIRATOR

MASKS. BUT THE BETTER WAY TO

PROTECT YOURSELF, ACCORDING TO

ETHICAL PROFESSIONALS IS

SIMPLE, STAY AT LEAST THREE

FEET AWAY FROM ANYONE WHO

COUGHS OR SNEEZES, VERY

DIFFICULT GIVING WE ARE

STARTING WITH ALLERGY SEASON,

RIGHT?

ALSO, WASH YOUR HANDS OFTEN,

LONG ENOUGH TO KILL ANY VIRUSES

AND A BIG ONE, STOP SHAKING

HANDS WITH PEOPLE AT THIS

POINT.

THEY SAY TO THE ELBOW BUMP IF

THAT'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO.