End Of Masks Amid Threat Of New Variation: Should We Be Concerned?

For the last two years, since the Covid-19 started, our lives have been changing significantly in order to protect ourselves and the people around us. And by that, meaning that we had to keep social distance to not transmit the virus, occasionally stay in lockdown and, most important of all, wear masks.

“At the time, no study points to any variant of interest with a bigger mortality rate than we already have, but we have to keep an eye so that we can protect ourselves”, says the infectious disease doctor, Alexandre Fernandes, about a possible new variant of Covid-19. 

However, Covid was not the only threat among us. Its variations became as concerning as the disease itself. Delta and Omicron are the currently circulating variants of concern (VOCs) and, until this point, there are five known variants and two of interest, Mu and Lambda. Unfortunately, at the beginning of April, a new Omicron subvariant was discovered in China and in the UK. 

So the main question is: should we be concerned about this new variant among us right after we finally get to take our masks off?

End of restrictions 

Recently, São Paulo city government made the wearing of masks more flexible, making its use not mandatory in closed and open environments, except for public transportation and its places of access. This new measure was determined after several analyses that took into consideration one very important thing: São Paulo surpassed 90% of its population, with more than five years old, vaccinated.

In cities around the world, such as London, wearing masks was never required by their government. Dr. Alexandre explains why: “The mask is not the only prevention measure that helps control the transmission rate. It is one of many. If there is somewhere that didn’t need the mandatory use of masks and were able to control the transmission rate, then great. The goal is to control the transmission rate, trying to keep the least possible impact in people’s lives”.

The appearance of new variants

Alexandre even says that the appearance of variations of the disease is absolutely natural and expected by professionals, and that masks can’t prevent that from happening. “If we keep using measures to stop the transmissibility, we continue to avoid the appearance, at least at a high speed, of new variants, but that doesn’t prevent them to appear, rather wearing a mask or not wearing one. The use of masks impacts only on the velocity that that can happen”.

Also, the Omicron variant is known by its high transmissibility rate, not of death. It’s obvious that every variation is different, but since it is a subvariant of one that already exists and it’s not deathly, maybe we shouldn’t jump into conclusions. Like Dr. Alexandre said, the situation has to be kept under surveillance and, once getting to know these variants, updating the vaccine or returning on wearing masks so we stay safe.

Keeping that in mind, the use of masks was not prohibited. The key to our health, mental or physical, is security. You can not wear a mask or you can. It’s a secure choice and it’s completely up to you, assured by a specialist. However, consciousness is also important. In case of appearance of symptoms, be aware of the “old” measures: stay at home (if you can) and wear a mask.

The article above was edited by Camila Nascimento. Liked this type of content? Check Her Campus Cásper Líbero home page for more! 

• delta variant
• masks
• Mu Variant
• omicron variant
• pandemic