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Is there anyone who doesn't know that starting next Wednesday, April 20,

wearing a mask indoors is no longer mandatory

?

Impossible.

Goodbye to the mask is a trend.

And, as in all

trending topics

,

there is always controversy

.

Spain is divided between those who look towards Shanghai and think that it is too soon and those who, like Camilo Sexto, "can't take it anymore" and believe that this measure should have been taken many months ago.

Is withdrawal a good move?

Taking out the crystal ball to predict the future is something that we have not been very good at during the pandemic.

However, we always have to analyze the data:

Reasons in favor of the 'bye-bye' mask

The main reason in favor of

bye-bye

is that, despite the incidence,

the percentage of hospital admissions, ICU admissions and deaths has decreased

considerably in recent times.

A percentage that, by chance?

has been decreasing at the same time that the percentage of vaccinated has increased and that in Spain it is around 90%.

We could say that, somehow, we have managed to turn the photo around.

A terrifying black and white photo in which hundreds of people died every day while the vaccine was about to arrive.

Reasons against the 'bye-bye' mask

Among the reasons against

bye-bye

is the

high incidence of the virus (AI above 400 in those over 60)

.

An incidence that, predictably, will increase after Easter.

Does it make sense to remove the masks right now, when the situation is escalating?

If we look outside, the dramatic situation in other countries like China brings back the worst of memories.

Not to mention that we have

a new variant in the office

: It's called XE and it's super contagious.

XE is the result of the combination of omicron and its relative misnamed 'silent' BA.2.

The good news is that, although this variant could be more contagious and 'bypass' immunity against omicron, it causes similar symptoms.

Finally, and here we come to what is really important: we cannot forget the people at risk, the vulnerable and immunosuppressed people who, without a doubt, are the ones on whom we have to concentrate all our efforts.

So... mask yes, mask no?

As we mentioned at the beginning, if we should have learned something in the pandemic, it is that

there are no certainties

.

In order to move forward, there is sometimes no choice but to make the 'least bad' decision, the one that generates the greatest benefit for the population considering the risks.

And, from there, be flexible and recalculate as many times as necessary.

Something that we all carry regularly.

In my opinion, removing the masks indoors

is a good idea as long as what we haven't done for two years is done: pedagogy!

and let's explain well that

this goodbye is not forever and everywhere

.

It is essential to convey to the population that the pandemic is not over, that the virus is still alive and infecting, and that there are special circumstances and people that we must take into account.

My advice?

We should all ALWAYS continue to wear a mask

(in the bag, in the backpack, in the pocket, in the glove compartment of the car...) since we never know if during the day we will meet some people at risk or end up somewhere where it is mandatory or recommended to use it.

Where will it continue to be mandatory to wear a mask?

As of Wednesday they must continue to wear a mask:

- Workers and visitors of

healthcare centers

and people admitted when they are in shared spaces outside their room.

- Workers and visitors in shared areas in

social-health centers

.

- People who travel or work in

means of transport

.

-It will also be mandatory to use in pharmacies, as the Minister of Health, Carolina Darias, has clarified.

Where is it convenient to make responsible use of the mask?

Although it is not mandatory, it

will still be advisable to

use it when we are faced with the following people or circumstances:

-

Vulnerable population

in any situation in which they have prolonged contact with people at a distance of less than 1.5 meters.

-

Teachers

with vulnerability factors.

- In the

workplace

, whenever the work must be carried out at an

interpersonal distance of less than 1.5 meters

and adequate ventilation of the space cannot be guaranteed.

- In the

family environment

, meetings with friends and private celebrations.

- In closed spaces for public use where people transit such as shops (

shopping centers, supermarkets or small shops

);

closed spaces in which people spend time without eating or drinking (

cinemas, theaters, concert halls, museums

, etc.) and in closed spaces in which people spend time eating and drinking (

bars, restaurants, entertainment venues nocturnal

...).

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