Masks key to stop & break infection chain: Virologists

Masks key to stop & break infection chain: Virologists

Amrita.Didyala@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  09.12.2021

With the threat of the highly mutated Omicron variant of Covid-19 looming, virologists say that wearing a mask when around others, even at home, will be the main preventive weapon. This will be especially required for people having family members in the ‘vulnerable’ category — immunocompromised patients having kidney or lung disease, cancer, have undergone an organ transplantation, uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension among others.

As the pandemic is unlikely to disappear immediately, wearing masks around people is recommended up to April-May next year.

“As Omicron has undergone a high number of mutations, it means that every time the virus mutates it has an adverse environment condition for it prevailing. With large number of people being vaccinated, it has become less damaging to be able to survive. But it appears to be highly infectious, something that it has retained from the mother strain. Therefore, everybody has to wear masks and follow all Covid protocols even if they are double vaccinated as there is every chance of breakthrough infections,” said Dr P Sangram, former director, Institute of Preventive Medicine and state public health laboratory.

The expert also suggested that immune-compromised people, elderly and people with poor nutritional status should go for booster doses whenever available.

State health authorities, meanwhile, have been advocating the use of masks at home for a while now.

“While people have started masking up again since the threat of the new variant, many still do not understand the virus can spread within a family in minutes if a mask is not worn. A mask is the best protection and easiest way to cut out chain of infection,” said Dr G Srinivasa Rao, director public health, Telangana.

But wearing a mask right holds the key. “Wearing the mask properly is more important, which should cover nose and mouth fully. Not just the chin or neck as most people do,” said Dr Ehsan Ahmad Khan, superintendent, Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences (TIMS).