By: Chaïra Flanders
Basseterre, St. Kitts, May 12, 2020 (ZIZ News): Coughing in your elbow is essential for protecting other persons from contracting the Coronavirus but it isn’t as effective as wearing your face mask.
This was highlighted by the Medical Chief of Staff, Dr. Cameron Wilkinson, during his appearance on the National Emergency Operations Center (NEOC) COVID-19 daily briefing for May 11.
Dr. Wilkinson was at the time responding to a question posed by a media representative who questioned the health and safety of persons who greet others by bumping elbows together.
He said, “If persons are coughing into their elbow and we are greeting with the elbow then there’s a risk of transmission but you are also forgetting that we asked that you wear a mask and so you really should be coughing and sneezing into your masks”.
He explained that the health officials initially encouraged greeting with the elbow before the need to have all persons wear face masks in public as a means of preventing the spread of respiratory droplets that can increase the risk of catching COVID-19.
Dr. Wilkinson added that in the best interest of one’s health, persons can opt out of greeting altogether and remain 6 feet apart to adhere to social and physical distancing protocols.