'There’s certainly no harm': Trump falsely claims scarves are an effective substitute for N-95 masks
President Donald Trump giving a coronavirus briefing (screengrab)

At Tuesday's coronavirus press briefing, President Donald Trump suggested that people should use a scarf instead of an N-95 mask.

"A lot of people have scarves. A scarf is good," said Trump. "There's certainly no harm."

Scarves are not a safe substitute for an N-95 mask, which is specially formulated to filter 95 percent of impurities out of the air. Many scarves are loosely knit and can hold the virus in the fibers.

The CDC is considering a recommendation that all Americans wear masks in public, but there is a worry such a recommendation could worsen the shortage of masks and leave doctors and nurses with nothing.