Australia’s about-face on masks and Covid-19: why our health advice was late to the party

Experts say masks reduce the amount of pathogens people inhale and also help stop asymptomatic carriers from spreading coronavirus. So why weren't the public told much earlier?

Australia's latest Covid-19 face mask advice
What kind of face mask gives the best protection?
Where to buy face masks - and how to make your own

Can wearing a face mask or covering our nose and mouth protect us from Covid-19 or help stop the disease from spreading?

In the early months of the pandemic, the advice from health authorities to the general public was that while masks could stop sick people from infecting others, there was little evidence that masks protected people who were not sick.