The use of masks: will you continue to use them by mandate or by conviction?

With favorable figures related to the pandemic in most of the planet, many governments are lifting the mandatory use of masks.

In Peru, from May 1citizens of those regions with more than 80% vaccination with a third dose in those over 60 years of age, and with more than 80% with two doses in those over 12 years of age, will be able to use masks voluntarily in open spaces.

Because they are at different times of the pandemic, other countries have already lifted the restriction on the use of maskseven in closed spaces. In that sense, last week, a sudden decision of a federal judge in the US, .

“It is very important to understand that the pandemic is not over yet. The epidemic in China still has an unknown direction.

For this reason, it seems valid to ask ourselves what will happen in the future with the use of masks in Western countries, which – unlike Eastern ones, which were already in the habit of using them – had to adopt their use due to the pandemic.

Knowing this depends, in turn, on the answer to another key question:

big controversy

The use of masks It has been through several controversies. The first was related to the delay with which both the WHO and the US CDC recommended its use in the population. Then, (cloth, surgical, N95, double mask) and where to use them (indoors or also outdoors).

Only when it began to be recognized that the main route of contagion of the coronavirus was through microscopic aerosols given off by breathing, speaking, singing or shouting, it was recommended that masks that gave greater protection were the N95 or KN95 respirators and that their use should be mandatory in closed environments without ventilation.

However, we think that the biggest controversy is related to the mandatory use. Perceived as an attack on individual freedom by some, or as a public health necessity for others, the use of masks it quickly became politicized, pitting members of society in many countries around the world against each other.

“It seems valid to us to ask ourselves what will happen in the future with the use of masks in Western countries”

To do?

First, it is very important to understand that the pandemic is not over yet. The epidemic in China is still heading in an unknown direction and the appearance of variants derived from the omicron family (BA.1 and BA.2) is giving rise to sub-variants whose impact is a mystery.

In this regard, the CDC in the US reported last week that the subvariant BA.2.12.1 already explains 19% of cases from COVID-19 in that country and

Because of that uncertainty, and the fact that the majority of hospitalizations and deaths caused by current variants occur in vulnerable people with chronic illnesses and decreased immunity, regardless of their health status, vaccinationwe think that this group of people should continue using the masks in closed spaces, despite the lifting of restrictions.

It is important to know that even when many people in a place are not wearing a mask, the person wearing it, if it is protected of the infection. That is, individual behavior is very important, if I want to protect myself, nothing prevents me.

We return then to the initial question: why have you used a mask: out of obligation or because you wanted to protect yourself from contagion?

If it was for the first reason, it is very likely that when the restriction is lifted he will stop using it and react with joy and happiness. If it was for the second, it is very likely that he will continue to use it. It will be a personal decision, based on your health care.

About, when asked how he took the disposition of the judge who suspended the mandate of use of masksPresident Joe Biden said that Americans should decide for themselves whether they want to wear masks on public transportation.

What will you do in the future, kind reader? Will you continue to use mask to protect himself in certain situations, or will he abandon it forever, until the next term? The announcement of the withdrawal of the use of masks should be taken with caution.