Dr. David Nabarro:

Certainly, the experience I have seen is that people are more likely to wear masks if they are made available to them free of charge. Where I am living, which is just across the border from Switzerland, in France, there is not only distribution by the local mayor but also quite a lot of clear advice on when and how the masks should be worn, and I am seeing a gradual pick-up in wearing. It is not something that can be done immediately. People do not immediately shift to doing it, especially if it is not compulsory. It is a kind of gradual process, as people get used to doing it. Not everybody enjoys wearing a mask. They feel it interferes with communication or they may feel claustrophobic. We need to be tolerant of the reality that this is quite a new practice, but I am seeing a pick-up, especially where I have seen masks distributed free of charge.