Covid-19: in which situations is it better to wear a mask?

The number of new daily cases has started to rise again in recent days in France. In a context of the lifting of health restrictions, in which cases is it better to continue to wear the mask?

Many measures were suspended on March 14, 2022. The vaccination pass was lifted in France and only the sanitary pass is still essential to enter a hospital for example. It is no longer necessary to wear the mask except in certain places. It remains compulsory in public transport: planes, buses, trains, boats… Health and medico-social establishments such as hospitals and clinics, nursing homes and retirement homes, but also establishments for disabled children or adults are also concerned. Wearing a mask remains compulsory in places where health professionals exercise, such as medical offices, offices nursesoffices of masseurs-physiotherapists, pharmacies or medical biology laboratories.

Wearing a mask is the most effective barrier gesture

During the first months of the pandemicthe barrier gestures mainly included social distancing, wearing a mask in closed places and even outdoors at the height of the weather.epidemic and disinfection of hands and surfaces. Washing hands for at least 30 seconds or using gel hydroalcoholic several times a day had become the norm for everyone. We now know that the majority of contamination comes from the droplets suspended in theair emitted by an infected person. The transmission of the virus by surfaces alone is nearly impossible. This is why wearing a mask is the most important barrier gesture.

Some situations require wearing a mask

According to government memo, wearing a mask remains recommended for the most fragile people, in particular in the busiest places and where crowding is high or in poorly ventilated places. As a reminder, the main risk factors to make a severe form of the disease are age, male gender, mental illnesses such as Trisomy 21a graft kidney or lungthe cystic fibrosisI’renal failure on dialysis, the Cancer lung active. The obese people are also more likely to be hospitalized or die from Covid-19. Professionals or caregivers who work in the homes of fragile people must also continue to wear the mask.

Wearing a mask is also recommended for people with symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, for individuals case contacts and of course, for SARS-CoV-2 positive patients. The government note even specifies that confirmed cases must continue to wear the mask until seven days after their release from isolation!