Kids 5 and under should not have to wear masks, WHO says

Very young children are less susceptible to the virus and are less likely to spread it to others, the two United Nations agencies said in a joint statement.

Children 5 and under should not be made to wear masks during the coronavirus pandemic, the World Health Organization, and UNICEF believe.

"According to the limited available evidence, young children may have lower susceptibility to infection than adults; however, available data suggest that this may vary by age among children," WHO and UNICEF said.

Additionally, some studies advise that teens may play a more active role in transmission than younger children, the organizations say.