If you live in an outbreak zone, you should wear a mask.
In China’s Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, local authorities have mandated that residents wear masks when they go outside, but they haven’t stipulated whether people wear surgical masks or respirators.
There are currently 65,596 cases in the province, and all residents are under quarantine.
In South Korea, which has over 1,260 coronavirus cases (the largest number outside of mainland China), the government has posted notices encouraging residents to wear masks in public and telling them that it is a “must” on public transportation.