With a second presumptive case of the Wuhan coronavirus reported Monday morning in Toronto, the temptation to stock up on surgical masks at your local pharmacy might be high.

But are they going to help you from getting infected?

While masks are selling out in downtown Toronto, medical experts say they won’t do much to prevent against contracting a virus in everyday life.

Whether the mask will help “depends on who is using the mask and how they’re using it,” Dr. Susy Hota, an infectious diseases specialist and the medical director of medical prevention and control at University Health Network, told the Star on Monday morning.

“The approach of just having everyone in the public walking around with no symptoms feeling well, just wearing a mask, I think that’s really just giving people a false sense of security,” Hota said. “We don’t really have any evidence to suggest that’s a useful way to stop infections.”

Hota said that in situations where a virus is spreading, “people feel a little bit impotent in these scenarios and they want to do something to protect themselves. It seems like a mask is a right thing to do, but there’s no real reason to do that in the public right now.”

Wearing a mask to prevent against contracting a virus isn’t part of any health plan in Canada, Hota said.

“That would not be a recommendation I would expect to see from public health officials,” Hota said.

In a news conference Monday at Queen’s Park, Ontario chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, said that masks were “never recommended” to stop the spread of viruses.

“It’s more important that you don’t put your hands up to your face,” Williams said.

In fact, wearing a mask could actually present some risk due to the frequency with which the wearer is touching their face.

Masks are typically used to keep germs in, rather than keep them out — this means they’re more effective in hospital settings than out in public, medical experts say.

Hota clarified that people that are symptomatic with a respiratory infection — exhibiting a cough or a sneeze — could wear a mask to prevent others from being exposed from infected droplets.

“If you do start to get a cough or feel like you need to sneeze, make sure you cover (your mouth) so you don’t allow those particles to get out of you and into someone else’s area,” Hota said.

Hota said she feels comfortable with the preventative measures that are already in place that would slow the spread of a flu.

Health-care workers might encourage a mask if a sick person has recently entered a hospital in order to prevent them from spreading a virus further to other patients.

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Officials have been stressing that those who have become ill should stay home and limit contact with others, rather than opting to wear a mask.

If you do feel inclined to wear one, pair the mask with other prevention methods.

Washing your hands is the leading way to keep from getting sick. Wash with soap and water, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid touching your face.

Additionally, Toronto Public Health suggests getting a flu shot.