The white side of the surgical masks is supposed to be worn on the outward side.

The appropriate methodology of wearing the surgical mask detailed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health disproves the claim.

The appropriate methodology of wearing the surgical mask detailed by the San Francisco Department of Public Health disproves the claim.The misinformation about the correct way to wear disposable face masks has spread on social media following the global outbreak of a new strain of coronavirus. The Facebook post states that the white side of the mask is worn outward when you're not sick and to prevent germs from getting in.

The San Francisco Department of Public Health website has detailed the proper method of wearing the surgical mask. The coloured side of the mask has usually worn in the front and, the white side touches the face.

As per the video uploaded by Bloomberg, Dr Seto Wing Hong, the co-director of the World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Infectious Disease Epidemiology has demonstrated the proper use of face masks. He said that the cloured side is waterproof which should be worn facing outside and the white side is for absorbing while coughing which touches the face.

Hence, it is concluded that the message circulating on social media regarding the method of wearing disposable face masks is not true.

The COVID-19 pandemic has given rise to a lot of potentially dangerous misinformation. For reliable advice on COVID-19 including symptoms, prevention and available treatment, please refer to the World Health Organisation or your national healthcare authority.