The demand for the reintroduction of face masks in response to increasing COVID-19 rates and the emergence of a highly mutated variant is growing. A college in Atlanta, Morris Brown College, has recently mandated the use of face masks for students and staff, just days after the start of classes. This private liberal arts school has implemented this measure due to reports of positive cases among students. Additionally, social distancing measures have been enforced, and parties and large gatherings have been banned for a two-week period.
In an editorial published by the American College of Physicians (ACP), government doctors and public health experts from Seattle have proposed compulsory face coverings in all healthcare facilities. These experts argue that hospital patients are at a higher risk of severe illness or death from COVID-19 and would benefit from reducing the risk of contracting the infection within healthcare settings.
The conversation surrounding the use of face masks in public settings has gained momentum since the CDC started monitoring the new variant, BA.2.86. Although Georgia has seen a three-week increase in COVID-19 cases, overall infection and hospitalization numbers remain relatively low.
The academic paper published by the ACP was likely written before the emergence of new variants and the recent rise in COVID-19 hospitalization rates in the US. Former FDA boss, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, has expressed concern about the highly mutated variant known as BA.X or Pirola, stating that it may have the ability to evade the immune systems of vaccinated or previously infected individuals. While there is no evidence that the variant is more deadly, COVID-19 fatalities in the US have started to increase, albeit from near historic lows.
In their article published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the ACP’s academic journal, the researchers argue that precautions, including increased mask wearing, should be implemented due to ongoing disease burden among high-risk individuals, asymptomatic transmission, uncertainty about the pandemic’s future course, and the impact of post-COVID-19 conditions. They suggest finding ways to adapt to this new reality rather than accepting unnecessary risks to patient and provider health. Improving masked communication and allowing patients to request mask-wearing by healthcare providers are proposed strategies. Masking in specific healthcare settings or during peak respiratory seasons could also be considered.
Although COVID-19 measures were expected to be dropped after Biden ended the national emergency, some UK scientists are advising the public to wear masks again due to concerns about new variants. Masks have been a subject of debate throughout the pandemic, with conflicting evidence regarding their effectiveness. While some studies have shown little to no difference in COVID-19 infection or death rates in community settings, the use of masks has remained controversial.
Critics of masks argue that they impede communication and hinder children’s development and progress in school. Face-covering mandates have also been associated with increased respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and flu cases during winter, as they prevent children from building natural immunity to other illnesses.
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