WHO will soon issue guidance on masks for children

(CNN) - The World Health Organization and UNICEF will be issuing guidance on the use of masks in children, Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, WHO infectious disease epidemiologist, said during a Friday briefing.

Van Kerkhove said the guidance will be broken up by age range. The guidance will be for decision makers and educators “about when and where masks can be used.”

Dr. Mike Ryan, WHO executive director of Health Emergencies Program, said “masks are a great tool” especially in the context of schools. But he warns they should not take the place of other public health measures.

Ryan said getting kids back to school is a “complex equation,” and wearing masks is just one part of it.

“The wearing of masks is not an alternative to social distancing. It’s not an alternative to hand washing. It’s not an alternative to decompressing class sizes. It’s not an alternative to all of the other measures,” he said.

“In fact it would decrease the benefits of masks if people closed physical distance, don’t wash their hands," Ryan added.

Van Kerkhove said the guidance should be issued in the coming days, if not sooner.

This story was first published on CNN.com, "WHO will soon issue guidance on masks for children"