Professor Čaplinskas – on wearing masks: an illogical decision was made in Lithuania

Professor Saulius Čaplinskas, a specialist in infectious diseases, warned that from the beginning our country has made the wrong decision regarding the use of masks. They are said to be used unnecessarily outdoors.

“From the beginning, the use of masks raised some questions because it was poorly communicated.

Basically, the use of masks in the open air is hardly justified. There is no supporting research for the masks to be effective for use outdoors. In some countries it was also applied, but since it was applied in Lithuania at the beginning of the pandemic, it was illogical. It is not recommended to wear masks outdoors, ”said S. Čaplinskas.

According to the professor, wearing masks outdoors is beneficial unless allergy sufferers when the plants are in bloom, there is a lot of pollen in the air.

“Allergists in Lithuania will confirm that this season there has been a significant reduction in allergies due to people wearing masks. In that sense, the use of a mask outdoors is justified, but for allergic diseases, not viral diseases”, the interlocutor explained.

Still, the teacher would be in favor of not wearing the masks indoors for now.

“In certain situations, indoors, where people congregate, where there is poor ventilation, where people stay together for a longer time, it would be prudent to use them in case of rapid spread of the virus. So far, considering the number of people vaccinated in Lithuania, is still insufficient to form a herd immunity when the virus could not spread and cause outbreaks.

Therefore, I believe that the recommendations of both the specialists and the WHO will be kept, and I would recommend that the masks be reused indoors when the fall season arrives, when the virus is likely to become active again. So far, there is no reason to give them up now, during the summer, when going to indoor supermarkets or using public transport. I will definitely use it as I did, ”promised S. Čaplinskas.

According to him, it is important what is the effectiveness of the mask and when its use would be justified.

“If the mask will be used outdoors, where no one will be around, where there will be no contact with another person for a long time, then what will the mask protect against? It will only get wet and when you enter a confined space, its filtration properties will be significantly reduced. Then it will not perform the function that it can perform.

Another topic that people have already learned is getting used to wearing masks. Now, a person with a mask does not look strange, and even on the contrary, a person without a mask or who uses a mask incorrectly when the nose is not covered looks strange. It is important that the mask is used correctly so that two thirds of the nose is covered, ”said the professor.

The scientist said that there is a difference between a respirator, a medical mask and a simple cotton mask.

“In the beginning, when medical masks and respirators were lacking, it was better to have a cotton mask than none. This deficiency is not present and is clearly demonstrated by the research data: the filtration properties of cotton masks, no matter how good they are made from any good fabric, are not equal to the filtration properties of medical masks. or respirators. People need to know: medical masks are made of three layers. The outer layer is hydrophobic, that is, it repels particles, the inner layer is hydrophilic, that is, it absorbs particles, and the middle layer filters.

And cotton masks are much better than anything else, but their filtration properties did not or will not equal medical masks or respirators “, S. Čaplinkskas did not hesitate.

When asked when masks will no longer be needed, even indoors, the professor replied that this would happen if a large enough part of the public were vaccinated and the virus did not have a chance to spread sufficiently.

“Then people who have acquired immunity will be safe. There may only be some risk for a person who will not have immunity if they come into contact with a person who is spreading the virus in a certain situation. But these will be only isolated cases of the virus. virus, there will be no mass outbreaks, there will be no spread of the virus. Consequently, there will be no need for broader restrictions for a wider range of people. Then only people who do not have immunity will be at risk.

But at the moment the situation is such that the volume of people with immunity in Lithuania is clearly insufficient, not that in the general population the virus does not have the opportunity to spread and cause outbreaks, but that even in high-risk groups it is insufficient. . The probability that critically ill patients who will not survive will come to the hospital is real, ”said S. Čaplinkskas.