The World Health Organization has on Friday issued a statement on the use of facemask. The statement contains updated guidance that refutes what was previously believed and lays out new guidelines for facemask users.

In the new guidance, the UN’s health agency ruled out the use of facemask as a reliable strategy for the prevention of COVID-19 pandemic. Among other things, it recommends a new design consisting of three layers as more evidence has proved that the regular facemasks make people vulnerable.

The new guidance reads below-

Today WHO is publishing updated guidance on the use of masks for control of COVID-19.

This guidance is based on evolving evidence, and provides updated advice on who should wear a mask, when it should be worn and what it should be made of.

WHO has developed this guidance through a careful review of all available evidence, and extensive consultation with international experts and civil society groups.

I wish to be very clear that the guidance we are publishing today is an update of what we have been saying for months: that masks should only ever be used as part of a comprehensive strategy in the fight against COVID.

Masks on their own will not protect you from COVID-19.

Here is what has not changed:

WHO continues to recommend that people who are sick with symptoms of COVID-19 should remain at home, and should consult their health care provider.

People confirmed to have COVID-19 should be isolated and cared for in a health facility and their contacts should be quarantined.

If it is absolutely necessary for a sick person or a contact to leave the house, they should wear a medical mask.

WHO continues to advise that people caring for an infected person at home should wear a medical mask while they are in the same room as the sick person.

And WHO continues to advise that health workers use medical masks and other protective equipment when dealing with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 patients.

Here is what’s new:

In areas with widespread transmission, WHO advises medical masks for all people working in clinical areas of a health facility, not only workers dealing with patients with COVID-19.

That means, for example, that when a doctor is doing a ward round on the cardiology or palliative care units where there are no confirmed COVID-19 patients, they should still wear a medical mask.

Second, in areas with community transmission, we advise that people aged 60 years or over, or those with underlying conditions, should wear a medical mask in situations where physical distancing is not possible.

Third, WHO has also updated its guidance on the use of masks by the general public in areas with community transmission.

In light of evolving evidence, WHO advises that governments should encourage the general public to wear masks where there is widespread transmission and physical distancing is difficult, such as on public transport, in shops or in other confined or crowded environments.

Our updated guidance contains new information on the composition of fabric masks, based on academic research requested by WHO.

Based on this new research, WHO advises that fabric masks should consist of at least three layers of different material. Details of which materials we recommend for each layer are in the guidelines.

We also provide guidance on how to wash and maintain a fabric mask.

Our guidance also explains how to use a mask safely.

People can potentially infect themselves if they use contaminated hands to adjust a mask, or to repeatedly take it off and put it on, without cleaning hands in between.

Masks can also create a false sense of security, leading people to neglect measures such as hand hygiene and physical distancing.

I cannot say this clearly enough: masks alone will not protect you from COVID-19.

Masks are not a replacement for physical distancing, hand hygiene and other public health measures.

Masks are only of benefit as part of a comprehensive approach in the fight against COVID-19.

The cornerstone of the response in every country must be to find, isolate, test and care for every case, and to trace and quarantine every contact.

That is what we know works. That is every country’s best defense against COVID-19.

WHO will continue to provide the world with advice based on the most up-to-date evidence, as part of our commitment to serving the world with science, solutions and solidarity.

At 10.25am Lagos time today, I will be delivering the Keynote at Edves Catalyst. The Link is below….

Edves Catalyst is the largest edtech conference in Nigeria. It is a virtual gathering of thought-leaders from around the world, to discuss mechanisms to deepen education, accelerate human productivity, and advance economic systems. I will keynote the event with a speech titled “Leading in a tough economy”. Dimeji Falana leads Edves.

https://zoom.us/j/95051288726?pwd=eHRHUktUOEtibjZzWTFWdzJpaWthUT09

The Nigerian telecommunication industry has continued to record an increase in the number of subscribers. For the month of March, there’s an addition of about 4 million subscribers from February, putting the total number of GSM internet users to 136,203,231 according to data published by the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC).

Globacom gained the highest share of subscribers with over 2.9 million new users. MTN came behind with 794,020 new subscribers to put the total number of its subscribers at 57,282,123. Airtel was the third gainer on the table with 654,549 new subscribers to reach 36,827,677 in total number of users.

MTN’s subsidiary, Fisafone was stagnant from February to March, maintaining its 88,818 subscribers. 9mobile came fourth, losing 181,973 subscribers to maintain the loss from February. The total number of subscribers on the 9mobile network stands at 7,762,068.

In porting, 9mobile leads the table as the favorite network. A total of 8,225 GSM users ported to 9mobile from other network operators. Airtel lost more subscribers than any other operator. About 6,466 subscribers left its services. MTN also lost 3,701, while 9mobile was the least loser with 1,756 users.

The NCC put the total number of GSM subscribers in Nigeria at 188,989,051 in March, indicating a 1.84 million increase from the previous month.

Out of over 188 million subscribers, MTN leads the chat with 73,573,788 users, a 38.93% of total number of subscribers. Globacom follows with 51,856,114, total number of users, a 27.44% increase. Airtel took the third place with 51,298,878 subscribers while 9mobile took the fourth place with 12,123,1185. The two companies contributed 27.14% and 6.41% respectively of the numbers. Visafone was at the bottom of the table with 0.07% representing 137,086 subscribers.

There is an increase of 39.90% in broadband penetration for the month of March, representing a 0.53% gain from February. 3G and 4G subscribers rose to 76,163,674 from the 75,555,604 subscribers in the preceding month.

Unfortunately, 9mobile has not been able to gain more subscribers since March 2019. The company has instead lost about 4.7 million subscribers.

However, it has continued its push to beat the challenges that resulted in the failings. On Monday, the company announced the appointment of a new chief executive officer, Alan Sinfield. 9mobile said he has the wealth of experience, accumulated through operational activities in the telecom and banking industry, to revamp the company.

“He brings extensive international and operational experience from wireless telecom. Fintech, and banking sectors to his new role at 9mobile. His global experience covers countries as diverse as the United Kingdom, Germany, Portugal, Slovakia, Iraq, Qatar, Myanmar, South Korea, Cambodia and Hong Kong. He was previously the CEO at Amara Communication Co. (ananda), a 4GLTE mobile broadband operator in Myanmar, and before this, he was the CEO of Cadcomms (qb), in Cambodia.

“Other earlier roles included being CEO at Ooredoo (Starlink), a subsidiary of the listed Qatari Telecommunications Group, operating in Qatar and regionally, and also as chief customer services officer at orascom Telecom (IraQna), a subsidiary of the listed Egyptian telecommunications group, operating the first mobile network in Baghdad and surrounding territories providing voice and nascent data and satellite service,” 9mobile statement said.

It was based on this heap of experience that 9mobile hired Sinfield, trusting that he would wield the charm needed to resuscitate the dying telco.

Sinfield has also acquired wealth of experience working in the banking sector. He started with the Bank of America, and later became a programmer and business analyst. After his spell at Bank of America in Frankfurt, Germany, Sinfield joined the Barclays Bank in South Africa. Other countries where he worked in the banking sector include Slovakia, Hong Kong and Portugal.

The Chairman of 9mobile Nigeria, Alhaji Nasir Bayero said he trusts Sinfield’s ability based on his experience, to turn the table for the good of the company.

“Alan’s wealth of experience of building high performance and high-growth organizations will play a pivotal role in strengthening 9mobile’s market position in the highly competitive telecommunications industry. He brings with him vision, passion and years of experience from diverse environments, which will consolidate our priorities to provide superior customer experience and sustained network quality.

“He is expected to work closely with the Board of Directors and all stakeholders to define credible and achievable long-term business plans, through the introduction of solutions to address the evolving needs of the Nigeria telecommunication market,” he said.

Accepting the challenge before him, Sinfield acknowledged the competitiveness of the Nigerian market and vowed to use his experience to lead 9mobile out of trouble.

He said: “The Nigerian telecoms industry is characterized by strong competition, but it is also an industry that is important to people everywhere. Nigeria is rich in diversity and boasts of energetic, resilient, friendly and hardworking people. I am delighted to join the 9mobile family and look forward to using my experience and unique value propositions to lead the company in the next exciting phase of its journey.

“The goal is to build on the existing strong foundation of the company to create value that will transform the Nigerian telecoms sector. I also look forward to embracing the people, the culture and the unique knowledge that Nigeria has to offer.”