Use of masks declining in India amid Omicron scare, warns Centre

NITI Ayog member V K Paul said the high mask use of more than 80% in June had dropped to less than 60% in November

Amidst the Omicron scare, the Union Health Ministry on Friday raised red flags on a sharp drop in mask use between June and December, underscoring the importance of wearing the masks along with vaccination to thwart any future threat.

Quoting a study by the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation, Washington, NITI Ayog member V K Paul said the high mask use of more than 80 per cent in June had dropped to less than 60 per cent in November. The decline began in July and the downfall continued till December.

Also read: 25 Omicron cases detected in India so far, symptoms mostly mild

“We have now entered into a danger zone. From protection capability, the mask use has dipped to an unacceptably low level. We were at a level similar to a period just before the second surge,” warned Paul, one of the government's principal advisors on Covid-19.

The warning from the government came days after a major study carried out in rural Bangladesh demonstrated how mask use decreased Covid-like illnesses in the countryside even in a poor nation. The trial in India's neighbour — spanning across 600 villages and involving approximately 340,000 adults — ran from November 2020 to April 2021. Its results suggest that mask distribution and promotion is a scalable and effective method to reduce symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection.

On the assessment of mask use going down in India, a health ministry official said the World Health Organisation (WHO) too pointed out laxity in the adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour since December 2020. The world body also showed a drop in mask use and physical distancing with an increase in vaccination rate.

Also Read | 5 of 7 Omicron patients in Pune test Covid negative: Ajit Pawar

“The WHO highlighted that public health and social measures compliance is declining with increase in vaccination rates. We need to diligently adhere to these public health measures in order to safeguard ourselves and those around us against Covid-19,” said Lav Agarwal, joint secretary in the health ministry.

On Omicron, officials said India currently has 25 omicron cases from five states — Maharashtra (10), Rajasthan (9), Gujarat (3), Karnataka (2) and Delhi (1). The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is conducting studies to check whether Covaxin and Covishield would work against the new variant.

“The National Institute of Virology is trying to grow the virus in the laboratory. Once it is grown, we can test the efficacy of Covaxin and Covishield against omicron in the laboratory,” said Balram Bhargava, the ICMR director-general.

Both Paul and Bhargava said no decision had been taken on the booster as well as paediatric dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

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