BERLIN (CU)_Faced with new and more contagious strains of COVID-19, European nations have begun to tighten mask regulations in hope to contain the spread of the virus.
Germany on Tuesday (Jan 19) made it mandatory to wear medical style masks (either N95s or surgical masks) in supermarkets and on public transport, while also Austria requires N95 equivalents in stores and on public transport.
Meanwhile in France, the country’s health advisory has discouraged the wearing of cloth and homemade masks, arguing that they may not offer sufficient protection against the more highly transmissible new variants of the virus.
However, these new recommendations have to be met with an increase in supply, since there were concerns in the early days of the pandemic that the use of surgical masks by the public would reduce the supply for front-line medical workers.
There is growing scientific evidence which indicate that surgical masks are more effective than cloth masks in preventing the spread of the virus. One study issued in the Lancet medical journal in June found that both N95 and surgical masks “have a stronger association with protection” compared to single-layer masks, while another study published by the Duke University in August found that fitted N95 masks were the most effective among different face coverings.
Nevertheless, the World Health Organisation insists that the use of medical masks should be restricted to those who have COVID-19 symptoms, as well as other vulnerable groups, including medical workers, those who are over 60 and those who come into contact with anyone with Coronavirus symptoms, while the Organisation recommends fabric masks for the general public.
Yet, Markus Söder, the state premier of Bavaria, insists that its “absolutely necessary” to have a higher risk of protection with the discovery of new and more transmissible variants of Coronavirus. “If the virus becomes more dangerous, the mask has to get better,” he said.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that while it is not yet known how extensively the new mutation has spread in Germany, however, it is these new variants that have driven a “huge increase” in infections in Britain and Ireland.
“There is still time to contain the danger [in Germany],” Merkel said. “So, it’s about prevention.”
