"If You Want To Live, Wear A Mask" - Experts On The Extension Of The Mask Regime In Moscow

"If you want to live, wear a mask" - experts on the extension of the mask regime in Moscow

On the eve of Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin announced the phased lifting of restrictions in the capital, mentioning that citizens and employers must continue to comply with security measures. Will there now be fines for the lack of a mask and gloves? Should I wear PPE in hot weather? Experts interviewed by MedPortal answer.

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We will remind, the head of the city published in his blog a plan for the phased removal of restrictions on June 9, 16 and 23. After that, the Moscow mayor's office posted a message stating that residents of the capital must still wear masks and gloves in public places, as well as maintain social distance.

“Moscow is returning to its usual rhythm of life: all major restrictions will be lifted in June, provided that epidemiological safety is maintained and taking into account the necessary sanitary measures,” the mayor's office said.

According to MedPortal, the head of the clinical research department of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, MD. Tatyana Ruzhentsova, the decision to lift the restrictions was made due to the fact that the number of newly detected cases of COVID-19 does not increase, although it remains quite high. This indicator allows you to relax quarantine measures. Muscovites will not be fined for the lack of masks and gloves, however, the situation with the incidence will continue to be monitored, and if the number of new cases begins to rise, restrictive measures will be tightened, moreover, in relation to the "mask regime".

“Therefore, it is recommended to observe the social distance regime and emphasize that wearing masks is recommended not only in crowded places, but also on the street. On paths, sidewalks, public transport stops, the risk of transmission of infection remains quite high, since it is difficult to maintain a social distance of two meters. We also recommend wearing gloves to reduce the risk of surface transmission. Gloves should be treated with disinfectants - this is more effective than just washing hands, since the infection can remain under the nails,”Tatiana Ruzhentsova said.

The expert advised to choose the masks and gloves that are most comfortable for hot weather, for example, made of thin materials. Ruzhentsova recommends removing the mask only if there is confidence that possible sources of infection are at a safe distance.

Doctor and medical journalist Aleksey Vodovozov recalled that lifting the restrictions does not mean defeating the virus. Therefore, anti-epidemic measures will continue for a long time, and not only in Russia.

“The world has just reached the jagged plateau, that is, the epidemiological situation has just begun to stabilize. It is clear that the functioning of enterprises is being restored, and not only strategically important, but also others, including the service sector, but no non-aggression pacts were signed with the coronavirus, so the rescue of the drowning, as usually happens, was transferred to the hands of the drowning themselves,” - Vodovozov told MedPortal.

The effectiveness of protective measures is confirmed by a new meta-analysis of the World Health Organization. According to Vodovozov, in countries where the phased lifting of restrictions is underway, emphasis will be placed on maintaining social distance, wearing medical masks, respirators or protective face shields and glasses.

“Adjusted for correct use, of course. So that one mask for 2 hours, and not for the entire pandemic. And not fabric, but medical. A respirator is better, of course. Gloves, by the way, were not mentioned in the meta-analysis, so the only thing they are guaranteed to save from is a fine,”said Alexey Vodovozov.

“In the heat, you will have to act according to the circumstances - in principle, when there was no pandemic, it was not recommended to be outside without a good reason, especially for people from risk groups. Everything remains in effect. If you want to live, wear a mask,”the expert concluded.