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The World Health Organization (WHO) provides interim guidance on the use of masks in the context of COVID-19, intended for individuals, public health professionals, healthcare managers, and workers. The main routes of COVID-19 transmission are respiratory droplets and contact, with most disease transmitted by symptomatic laboratory-confirmed cases. Pre-symptomatic transmission is possible, and asymptomatic transmission refers to transmission from a person who does not develop symptoms. Medical masks can limit the spread of respiratory viral diseases, including COVID-19, but their use alone is insufficient, and other measures like hand hygiene and physical distancing are critical. Masks should be reserved for healthcare workers, and their use in the community may create a false sense of security and lead to neglect of other essential measures. Persons with symptoms should wear a medical mask, self-isolate, and seek medical advice, while all persons should avoid groups, maintain physical distance, perform hand hygiene, and cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Decision-makers should consider the purpose of mask use, risk of exposure, and vulnerability of the person or population when deciding on mask use in community settings.