No masks? Has Covid ended?

Kumaran P | NT

With the decreasing number of positive cases of COVID-19 infections in the city and state, citizens have stopped wearing masks. The worrying factor is that other than Bengaluru city, other districts are majorly violating the COVID Appropriate Behaviour (CAB) and citizens have almost stopped wearing masks. Has the COVID-19 pandemic been over? City doctors give a word of caution and say stopping the wearing of masks is not a good idea.

“It is too early for people to give up the Covid-appropriate protocol. I would definitely suggest people wear masks in private or enclosed places where they are mixing with unknown people,” Dr Pallavi, Consultant – Internal Medicine, Manipal Hospital Hebbal.

She said, “Outdoors and areas of high transmission people should choose to wear a mask when in close contact with other people particularly those with a weakened immune systems or if they are at increased risk for infection. We are not done with Covid yet, as experts opine there may be other variants in Covid. We should learn to guard ourselves and deal with this henceforth.”

Dr Vivek Padegal, Director, Pulmonologist, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road, said, “The current positivity rate is probably much below the reality of actual infections any people are not testing all home testing and not reporting so it is still very possible that the infections are currently still widely being transmitted. At the end of every lockdown and wave, people behave like COVID is gone forever what time and again it has reared.”

“It’s an ugly head. All three waves’ severity would’ve been much less. People stick to the basics of masking social distancing hand hygiene and from last year vaccination. Even though the perception is that Omicron, the current predominant strain, is less dangerous, people are still developing severe Covid and are requiring ICU care. A healthy individual who has contracted cove it will still transmit through the elderly, the sick and the immune-compromised. So it is very important that we continue Covid appropriate behaviour, especially masking to prevent further spread,” said Padegal.

Experts say that preventing further waves protects the high-risk patient from both severe Covid-19 and post Covid-19 complications. It is therefore very important that emphasis is continued especially in rural areas. Where people don’t have as good of access to healthcare and severe disease can have a significant impact on finance and well-being. Remind people that it is very likely that Covid is not over yet and continuing masking is very important to protect oneself and others.

Dr Jagadish Hiremath, Chairman at Aasra Hospital said, “It is found that people are increasingly turning negligent towards covid appropriate behaviour. It is too early to stop wearing masks when we are out in public. Although cases are coming down and the positivity rate has come down to 2 per cent, we must remember that covid still exists among us and anyone around us could be carrying the virus.”

Hiremath said, “A large majority of cases are from the BA2 variant of Omicron virus now which is called “Stealth Omicron Variant” as RT PCR tests can be negative although they might be infected. This is a clear indication that covid is not over yet and following covid appropriate behaviour is still needed. Hence we cannot negate the chances of COVID-19 infection.”

Dr Subrata Das, Senior Consultant - Internal Medicine & Diabetology, Sakra World Hospital said, “Mask usage continues to reduce the chain of transmission. Even though covid has mild symptoms these days there are still few patients with comorbidities and old age who can become seriously ill. Also, we should see how the newer variants are behaving.

Das said that the mask also prevents other respiratory infections like flu. We are not yet done with covid though this time the fatality rate was low despite a large number of cases. We should wait and watch how the emerging variants behave.

Dr Brunda MS, Consultant - Internal Medicine, Aster CMI Hospital said, “Even though the cases are declining it doesn’t mean we have reached the end game of the pandemic. Though several countries have lifted their mask mandates, considering the current situation in India, mask compliance must continue for some more time for all and follow COVID-appropriate behaviour. WHO has warned that the emergence of variants more infectious than Omicron cannot be ruled out.”

So, it is soon to decide and ditch the mask now. Precaution is better than cure. Hence, continue wearing a mask, especially the one that fits appropriately without causing aerosol to spread and get vaccinated at the earliest.

Parents still sceptical of admissions next academic y