Teacher: All adults should wear masks indoors.

The specialists spoke about it on Tuesday in the program “Daily Edition” of “Žinių radijo”.

KTU teacher: education must be organized without masks

Professor Dainius Martuzevičius from the Department of Environmental Technologies at Kaunas University of Technology (KTU) said during the conference that there was concern about the upcoming educational process.

“There were a lot of discussions over the summer at various levels about how to implement that educational process. The latest news has not reached me, but I see a lot of concern. The whole world is also trying to solve this, “said D. Martuzevičius.

According to him, protective face masks are intended for adults, so education, according to the teacher, should be organized without wearing masks.

“The American Institute of Communicable Diseases says that masks are mandatory in educational institutions for all children over the age of two. (…) Yes, to put it bluntly, I would care if there is more benefit or harm. You need to protect yourself against the virus, but the mask is not a product for children, “said a KTU teacher.

For a child, as D. Martuzevičius explained, a stuffy nose and mouth is not a natural state, it prevents them from concentrating.

“That mask is more for adults,” said the interlocutor of the program.

However, he highlighted the importance of using adult masks.

“I think it is good that the vast majority wear those masks. (…) I think it has contributed a lot to controlling the spread of the virus ”, said the professor.

D. Martuzevičius explained that the delta strain spreads much faster, because the delta strain of the virus has about 1000 times more particles in the infected body than in the original variant of the virus.

“The amount of delta particles in the human body is much higher, it replicates more and more and enters the environment and can infect a greater number of people,” argued the KTU researcher.

As a result, according to the teacher, all adults should wear masks indoors.

“I would say that where there is an opportunity to use it, those in charge and those who care about their own health and the health of those around them should use it, even with more flexible requirements,” Martuzevičius said.

Sejonienė: If the discussion begins bitterly, it is already an ultimatum.

Seimas member Jurgita Sejonienė responded to the viewer’s comment that the public did not have enough answers to various questions. He said that the coronavirus pandemic was an entirely new situation, but over time, more and more data is emerging.

“Every day there is more evidence and more clarity. Today, it is a clear and proven fact that vaccines work, significantly reduce the risk of developing or dying from severe disease COVID-19, and reduce the number of hospitalizations. There is also evidence that it reduces transmission time, (…) that it reduces the risk of new mutations. This data is increasing every day, ”said J. Sejonienė.

The government, he said, also takes that data into account.

When asked if the government should speak to people protesting the restrictions, the MP replied simply.

“I think a benevolent and not categorical discussion is necessary. If we look at the example of the rally, it is really difficult to talk to 4 thousand. Or to talk to anyone. Neither the Prime Minister nor any minister can do that with each of the 2, 8 million people, ”said J. Sejonienė.

The rest is left to the people, they think the government has done it, but the discussion has to be benevolent.

“If it starts with bitterness, it is no longer an argument, but an ultimatum,” emphasized the member of the Seimas.

At the same time, he stressed that he believes that people should be mindful, choose science-based information, and follow recommendations.

“Masks are a very effective means if it is not possible to ensure distances, ventilation. (…) As a result of mandates and recommendations – people resent when it is mandatory, they do not like the principle of the whip. The masks have been shown to be effective, ”said J. Sejonienė.

However, he said, if residents continue to evade the rules, new restrictions could be imposed.

“If that measure does not work and we have new outbreaks, it is likely that there will be new restrictions and no longer recommendations, but binding ones. I think that first of all we have to use soft tools and try to speak and reach an agreement in good faith ”, emphasized the parliamentarian.

Sparrow would support a freer life, but the dangers of the virus demand that it be taken into account.

Professor Aurelija Žvirblienė from the Vilnius University (VU) Life Sciences Center also took part in the show.

“The masks help stop the virus and as you know, some people who get vaccinated can carry the virus, so the masks are useful to stop the spread of the virus to some extent, but if you think of cafes, it does not make sense. . because those masks still take it off, “said the expert.

He noted that he believes that the use of masks in supermarkets is really necessary, but at the same time he did not hide his belief that the epidemiological situation this winter will already be better than the previous one.

“I think the situation should not be as bad this winter as it was last winter, because there are a lot of people who have been vaccinated and get sick, which means that the development of the virus should be less,” A said. Žvirblienė.

In his personal opinion, the country could try to live as freely as possible.

“If there is a catastrophe, then it is possible to get those restrictions in place,” said the VU professor.

A. Žvirblienė pointed out that people are tired of all the restrictions, but the threat of the virus, he stressed, cannot be underestimated.

“It just came to our notice then. That outrage is partly understandable, but if we look at those countries that have generally ignored the virus and where the vaccination rate is low, we see that the situation is much more serious: both hospitals are filling up. and there are many deaths. We cannot completely ignore the threat of the virus, “he emphasized.

According to the professor, Lithuania is not an exceptional country and is behaving in a similar way to others: when the number of COVID-19 cases increases, restrictions are introduced, but vaccines have been of great help in managing the pandemic, according to the expert. .

“What vaccine opponents would say, but it won’t deny the fact that most vaccinated people don’t get sick or get sick much more easily,” said A. Žvirblienė.

He said he had no answer as to why some people did not recognize scientific achievements.

“I don’t have an answer, but I know that people have different opinions. After all, education is not the same for all people. It seems to me that those conspiracy theories have always been and always will be. We must also bear in mind that we live in a different information field, for example, from the Scandinavian countries, ”said the VU professor.

As for anyone, according to A. Žvirblienė, liars are hard to resist.

“It just came to our attention then. An example has been mentioned more than once, like fastening a seat belt on a machine. It may be outrageous that human rights have been violated, but it would probably not be the correct interpretation to say so,” he added. .

Public relations expert: there will never be consensus between vaccine opponents and the government

Public relations expert Kęstutis Gečas first pointed out that the pandemic situation is very atypical.

“Even in mature societies, in Western societies, the conflict or the discussion about masks, about vaccines, is very high. Here there is not enough maturity ”, he emphasized.

K. Gečas did not hide that he is more pessimistic in this situation.

“I think there can only be an agreement between some people, because there are people called extremists on both sides. I may deserve them, but sometimes I call them radicals in one way or another.

People with extreme visions no longer listen to the other side, a bridge will not be built between these two groups, because they refuse to take that branch of the bridge for them, if I say so by metaphor, ”the expert put as an example.

And this, according to K. Gečas, is already related to deeper reasons.

“So far, I cannot criticize much the government’s own communication, not much will be done with antivirals,” he said.

So this, as the public relations specialist pointed out, remains an unresolved issue.

“All the analysts who analyze nonconversation recognize that anti-vaccines are based mainly on emotion, but not on logic: fear, doubt in institutions, mistrust and the like. In this case, the logic never trumps emotions, ”added K. Gečas.