PUNE: Top health experts and central task force members told TOI on Friday that removing mask mandates could not be universal as a lot depended on how much risk one was willing to take in the time of Covid.
The experts’ comments came a day after Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope spoke about seeking experts’ advice to make the state mask-free.
Dr Giridhar Babu, member of the epidemiology, surveillance and research group, ICMR national task force, said there was no evidence suggesting that being mask-free would be helpful during a pandemic. “Available evidence overwhelmingly shows that mask use will provide a significant protective effect.”
ICMR-New Delhi Additional director-general Dr Samiran Panda said, “Mask mandates should be discussed from a public health perspective, weighing the risks against the benefits. This requires an educated and informed discussion, rather than pointing what is right or wrong.”
Masks to stay till Covid eradicated: Ajit Pawar
A day after state health minister Rajesh Tope said expert opinion was being sought on going mask-free in Maharashtra, deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar said the mask rule would continue till the coronavirus is eradicated.
“As long as Covid is there, we have to wear the mask. There was no discussion on this, going mask-free, in the state cabinet. Whenever such a decision is taken, we will hold a press conference and tell everyone about it. We must continue to wear masks as long as there is Covid,” Pawar said on Friday. The additional directorgeneral of ICMR-New Delhi, Dr Samiran Panda, said, “The elderly and those with comorbidities can benefit greatly from proper mask use, as it will help protect them not only against Covid, but also from other infections like influenza as well as the harmful effects of air pollution. Even the flu can be fatal for some elderly people. ”
Top virologist Gagandeep Kang said, “Masks outdoors in uncrowded settings never made sense. But in all other settings, it is a question of how much transmission is happening in a community and how much risk we are willing to take. ”
Dr Sanjay Pujari, a member of the ICMR national task force on clinical research for Covid-19, said it might be premature to consider universal removal of mask mandates at this stage of the pandemic.
“Masking mandates have been lifted by some countries like the UK, Denmark and some states in the USA. However, this is not universal as the UK still recommends masking in health care settings, in indoor public gatherings, public transports and care homes. These recommendations are in the background context of high vaccine booster coverage of adult population, access to effective antivirals like Plaxovid as well as to rapid antigen tests. ”
“At this time, we do not clearly know when the pandemic will wane or cease and the likelihood of further variants emerging cannot be completely ruled out. Even if mask mandates are selectively removed, a strong surveillance system to monitor for outbreaks/clusters with added genomic surveillance to spot new variants need to be in place, that may necessitate reintroduction of mask mandates in case of significant outbreaks,” he added.
(With inputs from Mumbai)
