They ask to return the masks before the new version: does this make sense?

In just 3 years, our lives have changed so much that if you remember the times before COVID-19seems like decades have actually passed. We know what it’s like to spend months not being able to leave the house for only the essentials, to shop with fear, to compulsively sanitize everything, wear a mask down the street or listen to insistent messages about the safe distance through the loudspeaker. We remember it as a nightmare, still close, but finished. And the truth is, it’s not over yet. The virus that causes COVID-19 is still with us, although vaccines have made its impact much milder. But it does not stay with us forever. New variants are constantly emerging, some of which are capable of causing large outbreaks, as is happening today. For this reason, there are those who warn of the need to return to some of these apocalyptic measures at first. Especially the masks.

Its use was phased out in some countries before others. They have renounced the use of masks both indoors and outdoors. Then only indoors. Further in public transport and medical centers, then only in the latter and, finally, in none. This last conclusion was accompanied recommendation continue to wear a mask in case of symptoms of a respiratory virus, but the truth is that many people do not comply with it. For this reason, given the emergence of a new variant leaving a large number of cases around the world, there is already talk of reusing them, at least in some areas.

This divided the scientific community. There are experts who believe that little can actually be done to reduce cases. Others believe that this is a very necessary measure.

It would be strange that there were no new options.

Virus can’t play on their own. They need to infect cells, in this case human cells, and take over the mechanism they use to divide. This way they can replicate themselves and continue to infect.

Because these copies are made and passed from one person to another, they can be erroneous. That is, they produce mutations in your genetic material, which generate very different changes in viruses. Some of them may be harmful to them, for example, preventing their further reproduction. Others may go unnoticed without changing for better or worse.

But others may increase its virulence. For example, new variants of the COVID-19 virus have been discovered with several mutations in its spike protein. This is the key to getting into the cells they infect. As well as the goal that vaccines are aimed at. If the spike changes too much, it might not even be able to infect. But, if it changes slightly, it will continue to infect without getting the attack caused by the inoculation.

Something similar happens with VA.2.86, a new variant that leads to an increase in cases of COVID-19 worldwide. It breeds very easily and seems to avoid vaccinations to some extent. Because of this, it has become a so-called anxiety variant. That is, scientists are well aware of its evolution. Evolution, which at the moment does not seem to address gravity.

Should we wear masks to prevent Covid-19 again?

During a pandemic, the so-called swiss cheese pattern. In other words, each of the measures or restrictions used was like slices of cheese stacked one on top of the other. There are holes in this cheese, indicating the shortcomings of each measure. But if you put other slices on top, these holes will close.

Masks are useful in certain respects if they used correctly. This includes updating them when necessary, covering the nose and mouth well, and trying to avoid gaps around them, for example. But even if they are used correctly, their success is due to their use in combination with other measures.

In an article for Talkprofessor at the University of Reading Simon Clark Remember that there are studies for and against its effectiveness. It is true that the latter are very radical as they are more than proven to work. But always taking into account each individual situation and in combination with other measures.

Thus, now that there is an increase in the incidence of COVID-19, the use of masks in itself may not be useful. Of course, we are talking about Wide use. If we have symptoms of a respiratory virus, we are among vulnerable people, or we are about to come into contact with someone positive, we should not give up this safety measure.

And the fact is that COVID-19 is not going anywhere. We have to learn to live with it, but that doesn’t mean we should bury the weapons we use to fight them or use them without thinking about how. Let’s show that, although it sometimes seems not, we have learned from this pandemic.