As the scientific evidence changes, public health policy and recommendations have also changed. The use of face coverings and masks is an excellent example as early advice from the WHO and the CDC does not represent current recommendations. The WHO initially maintained that only healthcare workers and the elderly at risk for infection should consider wearing a mask. However, updated recommendations include those who have difficulty maintaining social distance should wear a three‐layer cloth mask. https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200608/who‐changes‐stance‐says‐public‐should‐wear‐masks. Also, the CDC currently recommends the use of face coverings in public and continued social distancing, https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019‐ncov/downloads/cloth‐face‐coverings‐information.pdf, but these guidelines were updated from early advice discouraging the use of face coverings by the general population due to a shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) for healthcare workers. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/31/health/cdc‐masks‐coronavirus.html These positions are in contrast to the prevailing advice in many nations. Japan, Korea, and China have reported very low Coronavirus infection and death rates despite limited and short‐term business and school closures, and even the lack thereof in some settings. Evidence suggests that low transmission and mortality rates can be attributed to cultural differences that support compliance of mask adoption. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/06/world/asia/japan‐coronavirus‐masks.html.