Knowledge and Beliefs towards Universal Safety Precautions to flatten the curve during Novel Coronavirus Disease (nCOVID-19) Pandemic among general Public in India: Explorations from a National Perspective

Sai Krishna Gudi; Krishna Undela; Rajesh Venkataraman; Uday Venkat Mateti; Manik Chhabra; Sanath Nyamagoud; Komal Krishna Tiwari

Besides, usage of personal protective equipment (PPE) would be another precautionary measure to be taken in controlling further spread during outbreaks, although PPE is considered as less effective compared to other control measures. Routinely, PPEs are widely used in healthcare settings as a standard to protect healthcare workers from infections [13] . Among different types of PPEs, face masks and hand gloves are the most commonly used in situations during emergency outbreaks, especially by the sick people in order to avoid the spread. Face masks have always been popular and well-known public interventions used as a self-protection measure. The use of face masks has been included in their pandemic plans by most of the developed countries such as the United States, France and Australia [14] . WHO states that wearing a face mask incorrectly may actually increase the chance of being infected, rather than decreasing [15] . Thus, the correct use of face masks is particularly essential while dealing with the situations during pandemics such as COVID-19. Implementing the above-mentioned non-pharmacological USPs during the COVID-19 pandemic would relieve the concerns of over-loaded healthcare systems as well as the public to a remarkable extent.