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Mask order|Hong Kong University Xue Da advocates no mandatory wearing of masks to help fight the virus as spring warms up

2023-02-26T10:39:31.018Z


Siddharth Sridhar / Xue Da, a professor of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, posted a post on facebook today (26th), questioning the obsolete anti-epidemic measures of mandatory wearing of masks, and suggesting that high-risk people should be at high risk of infection


Siddharth Sridhar / Xue Da, a professor of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, posted a post on facebook today (26th), questioning the obsolete anti-epidemic measures of mandatory wearing of masks, suggesting that high-risk people should continue to wear masks in high-risk places of infection; Whether to wear a mask in most public places is optional, and high-risk places such as nursing homes and hospitals still need to wear a mask.


He also pointed out that warmer weather could provide additional protection against the spread of respiratory viruses as the virus becomes less active going into spring.


Wearing a mask may not protect public health

Xue Da, a professor of the Department of Microbiology at the University of Hong Kong, posted on Facebook today (26th) that most of the anti-epidemic measures in Hong Kong have been abolished except for the mandatory wearing of masks. At the current stage of the epidemic, is it still necessary to wear a mask, or does wearing a mask really help protect public health?

He mentioned that when the new crown epidemic broke out in early 2020, even if the government did not introduce a mask order, the use rate of masks by citizens was still very high. In the following two years, the new crown virus and other respiratory viruses fell to low levels. In addition to wearing masks, this also Thanks to the government's implementation of multiple social distancing measures, school suspension of physical classes, customs clearance restrictions, isolation and quarantine measures, etc.

Experiments in Hong Kong have also proved that masks can inhibit the spread of the new coronavirus to a certain extent.

Unable to wear a mask all the time

However, he believes that the emergence of the Omicron virus has exposed the shortcomings of masks. Although Hong Kong has a high rate of wearing masks, it cannot resist the wave after wave of outbreaks in 2022.

He analyzed the reason and pointed out that citizens cannot wear masks at any time, such as at home, in restaurants and in company tea rooms.

Even if you wear a mask, it may not be able to block the inhalation of pollutants. Moreover, most of the population in Hong Kong has been infected with the new crown virus and can have short-term but strong immunity.

High-risk persons or entering and exiting high-risk places should wear masks

He pointed out that there is no need to wear a mask unless you enter a hospital ward for patients with respiratory infections, or the elderly, medical staff and people with low immunity are in certain places such as hospital wards, outpatient clinics, and nursing homes.

He also said that Hong Kong citizens should not be required to wear masks everywhere to fight against the new crown virus, and pointed out that entering spring, warm weather can be an additional protection against the spread of respiratory viruses, because the virus will be less active when the temperature rises.

He also pointed out that the current government allows citizens to remove their masks in high-risk places such as restaurants, but at the same time requires them to wear masks in outdoor places where the risk of infection is minimal. The two are contradictory.

Macau announced on 2.27 that it is no longer mandatory to wear masks outdoors and wear them on public transport. Macau announced that it will no longer be required to wear masks outdoors and take taxis from tomorrow. The epidemic is under control and the level of influenza is low. Lu Chongmao: Determine by data One day, the public happened to meet the actor Huang Bo and Cheung Chau eating fish balls, and taking the subway in Admiralty. Netizens: Why didn't you wear a mask?

Source: hk1

All news articles on 2023-02-26

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