The Times Australia

The Times World News
The Times

With COVID surging, should I wear a mask?

  • Written by C Raina MacIntyre, Professor of Global Biosecurity, NHMRC Principal Research Fellow, Head, Biosecurity Program, Kirby Institute, UNSW Sydney

COVID is on the rise again[1], with a peak likely over the holiday season.

Given this, health authorities in a number of Australian states have recommended people start wearing masks again[2]. In Western Australia[3], masks have been made mandatory in high-risk areas of public hospitals, while they’ve similarly been reintroduced in health-care settings in other parts of the country[4].

Hospitals and aged care facilities are definitely the first places where masks need to be reinstated during an epidemic. But authorities are differing in their recommendations[5] currently. Calls to mask up, particularly in the wider community, have not been unanimous[6].

So amid rising COVID cases, should you be wearing a mask?

Read more: We're in a new COVID wave. What can we expect this time?[7]

COVID is still a threat

Unfortunately, SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID) has not mutated into just a trivial cold.

As well as causing symptoms in the initial phase – which can be especially serious for people who are vulnerable – the virus can lead to chronic illness[8] in people of any age and health status due to its ability to affect blood vessels, the heart[9], lungs, brain and immune system.

COVID and its ongoing effects are contributing to substantial disability[10] in society. Loss of productivity due to long COVID is affecting workforce and economies[11].

A group of people working in an office wearing masks.
We’re in a new COVID wave. Luis Alvarez/Getty[12]

While public messaging to “live with COVID” has seemingly encouraged us to move on from the pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has other ideas. It has continued to mutate[13], become more contagious[14], and to evade the protection offered by vaccines.

COVID is not endemic, but is an epidemic virus[15] like influenza or measles, so we can expect waves to keep coming. With this in mind, it’s definitely worth protecting yourself – particularly when cases are rising.

What can we do to protect ourselves?

We know SARS-CoV-2 transmits through the air[16] we breathe. We also know a lot of the transmission risk is from people without symptoms[17], so you can’t tell who around you is infectious. This provides a strong rationale for universal masking during periods of high transmission.

The need is highest in hospitals where thousands of unsuspecting patients have caught COVID during the course of the pandemic and hundreds have died[18] as a result in Victoria alone. Aged care facilities are similarly vulnerable.

Read more: COVID mask mandates might be largely gone but here are 5 reasons to keep wearing yours[19]

Masks do work[20]. A Cochrane review suggesting they don’t was flawed and subject to an apology[21].

Masks work equally by protecting others and protecting you. By visualising human exhalations too tiny to see with the naked eye, my colleagues and I showed how masks prevent outward emissions[22] and how each layer of a mask improves this.

The most protective kind of mask is a respirator or N95[23], but any mask protects more than no mask[24].

Wearing a mask when visiting health-care or aged-care facilities is important. Wearing a mask at the shops, on public transport and in other crowded indoor settings will improve your chances of having a COVID-free Christmas.

People on public transport wearing masks.
Wearing a mask on public transport is a good idea. Westend61/Getty[25]

What about vaccines?

Although the virus’ evolution has challenged vaccines, they remain very important. Boosters will improve protection because vaccine immunity wanes and new mutations make older vaccines less effective.

In May 2023 the World Health Organization[26] outlined why monovalent boosters[27] matched to a single current circulating strain gives better protection than the old bivalent boosters (which target two strains). The XBB boosters are available in the United States, but not yet here[28].

Read more: Mask mandates – will we only act on public health advice if someone makes us?[29]

Testing and treatment will also help. There are effective antivirals for COVID, but you cannot get them without a COVID test, and testing rates[30] are very low. Having some RAT tests on hand means you can quickly isolate and get antivirals if indicated.

Finally, safe indoor air is key. Remember that SARS-CoV-2 spreads silently, mainly by inhaling contaminated air. Opening a window or using an air purifier can significantly reduce your risk, especially in crowded indoor settings like schools[31]. A multi-layered strategy[32] of vaccines, masks, safe indoor air, testing and treatment will help us navigate this COVID wave.

References

  1. ^ on the rise again (theconversation.com)
  2. ^ wearing masks again (www.thenewdaily.com.au)
  3. ^ Western Australia (www.abc.net.au)
  4. ^ other parts of the country (www.adelaidenow.com.au)
  5. ^ differing in their recommendations (www.thenewdaily.com.au)
  6. ^ have not been unanimous (www.9news.com.au)
  7. ^ We're in a new COVID wave. What can we expect this time? (theconversation.com)
  8. ^ chronic illness (www.nature.com)
  9. ^ the heart (academic.oup.com)
  10. ^ substantial disability (www.nature.com)
  11. ^ workforce and economies (www.mckinsey.com)
  12. ^ Luis Alvarez/Getty (www.gettyimages.com.au)
  13. ^ continued to mutate (erictopol.substack.com)
  14. ^ more contagious (www.ebgtz.org)
  15. ^ an epidemic virus (www.cnbc.com)
  16. ^ through the air (www.thelancet.com)
  17. ^ from people without symptoms (abcnews.go.com)
  18. ^ hundreds have died (www.theage.com.au)
  19. ^ COVID mask mandates might be largely gone but here are 5 reasons to keep wearing yours (theconversation.com)
  20. ^ do work (theconversation.com)
  21. ^ an apology (www.thestar.com)
  22. ^ prevent outward emissions (theconversation.com)
  23. ^ a respirator or N95 (theconversation.com)
  24. ^ more than no mask (www.cdc.gov)
  25. ^ Westend61/Getty (www.gettyimages.com.au)
  26. ^ World Health Organization (www.who.int)
  27. ^ monovalent boosters (erictopol.substack.com)
  28. ^ not yet here (www.sbs.com.au)
  29. ^ Mask mandates – will we only act on public health advice if someone makes us? (theconversation.com)
  30. ^ testing rates (theconversation.com)
  31. ^ like schools (iopscience.iop.org)
  32. ^ multi-layered strategy (ozsage.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/with-covid-surging-should-i-wear-a-mask-217902

‘Dark tourism’ is attracting visitors to war zones and sites of atrocities in Israel and Ukraine. Why?

There is a disturbing trend of people travelling to the sadder places of the world: sites of milit...

Times Lifestyle

The Jewish International Film Festival

JEWISH INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL BRINGS GLOBAL STORIES TO AUSTRALIAN SCREENS 2024 JIFF Program Announced The Jewish...

Warning to Grey Nomads - Pop Top Caravan Hidden Risks

To pop or not to pop… that is the question. Hybrid pop top caravans are a popular choice for many caravanners, but ar...

How to Ensure You Don’t Miss Out on a Ticket for the Next Huge Ev…

It can be a moment of huge excitement when a concert or huge event is announced to be coming to a nearby venue. There are l...

Times Magazine

The Symbology Of Birthstones

Way back in the Middle Ages, the healers and wise men of the time thought that all gemstones held supernatural powers, a belief that continues on to this very day! The tradition still fascinates us, so let's examine the birthstones and the gift the...

The Science Behind Neodymium Magnets: How They Work and Why They’re So Powerful

In the world of magnets, neodymium magnets are the rock stars. Despite their small size, they are the big hitters. The power and performance of neodymium magnets make them essential in everything from earbuds to electric vehicles. But what exactly ...

The Ethical Considerations of AI Chatbots: Balancing Innovation with Responsibility

The rise of AI chatbots has dramatically transformed how businesses interact with customers. These intelligent tools can handle inquiries, provide support, and even personalize user experiences. However, with this innovation comes a host of ethical c...