Should all Pennsylvanians start wearing face masks? Four local experts weigh in.

Yet while Western authorities warned against face masks for the general population, many Asian nations did the opposite. The Chinese Center for Disease Control recommends face masks be worn when out in public; South Korea has been vigorously stocking its pharmacies with masks; and, since early February, Taiwan has rationed its mask sales to two per person each week.

According to recent reports, the American government’s official position could soon change. The CDC is considering altering its guidance to encourage the general public to wear face masks, the Washington Post reported on Monday. And Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said Tuesday that the White House coronavirus task force is seriously considering adopting similar guidance, according to Politico, as long as doing so wouldn’t take resources away from medical professionals.

In an effort to get to the bottom of the issue, PublicSource sought to curate additional feedback from four local experts on the question: Should all Pennsylvanians start wearing face masks? The main takeaways: save medical-grade masks for healthcare workers. If you do choose to wear a mask, make sure to wear it properly and diligently continue other mitigation efforts, like hand-washing and strict social distancing.

Protective masks adorn the sculpture of Seneca leader Guyasuta and George Washington on Pittsburgh’s Mount Washington. (Photo by Kimberly Rowen/PublicSource)