Voluntary use of masks in Peru: questions and answers to the measure announced by the Executive

The Chief of the Ministerial Cabinet, Aníbal Torres, announced last Wednesday that the use of masks in places open to the public will no longer be mandatory under certain parameters. This measure is given the reduction of cases of COVID-19. Recall that this accessory became mandatory since March 2020, more than two years ago.

Faced with the large number of doubts generated by this news, César Munayco, director of public health surveillance at the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control (CDC) of Minsa, answered a series of questions.

Since when will it be possible to stop wearing masks?

The optional use of masks in open spaces will be from May 1st, “because we must remember that we have a decree in force that expires this end of the month (April) and which will be replaced by the next decree. It has to end (the current rule) for this new measure to be implemented,” he explained.

In which places will the use of the mask be voluntary?

There are four regions that will allow this rule to be applied for the time being: Ica, Metropolitan Lima and Lima Province, Áncash and Callao. These are the places that meet the criteria established by the Minsa to make the use of masks optional.

What are the requirements for a region to be eligible for voluntary use of masks?

As Munayco explains, two criteria were used. The first is vaccination in older adults, which must reach coverage with third doses above 80%. And the other criterion is in children under 12 years of age, who must have 80% coverage with second dose. The above-mentioned regions meet these criteria.

In which places can you stop wearing masks?

This rule applies to open spaces. Although Minsa will publish in detail in the Supreme Decree what an open space is, Munayco said that these are areas such as the street or the park, where the risk of infection is much lower.

What if my district has a vaccination rate greater than 80%?

Munayco clarifies that targeting is done at the regional level to implement this standard. That is, it is not considered whether a district or annex has a good vaccination rate, but rather the percentage of the entire region is taken into account.

“That is why it is important that, at the regional level, progress is made with vaccination coverage, to bridge the gap we have in adults and children who have not been vaccinated,” Munayco said.

In what other regions can this measure be applied?

There are several regions that are close to reaching the desired percentage. Within these regions are Tumbes, Piura, La Libertad, Moquegua, Arequipa, Pasco, Lambayeque, Apurimac, Junín, Cusco and Cajamarca. “They lack a bit of coverage in children. In some cases 2% or even 1%. It is important that strategies are carried out to meet these thresholds,” said the specialist.

What other measures are left out of this standard?

No. Measures to enter public places continue, such as presenting a vaccination card to enter public places.

ADVANCE STRATEGIES

Munayco explained that progress is being made progressively in order to encourage regions to have optimal coverage, and to be able to improve the numbers.

In this regard, he commented that there are several strategies of Minsa, such as going to vaccinate house by house, to markets, or in transport. “It's important to keep in mind that we have to get to normal. These measures are based on the scenario we live in,” he said.

He indicated that studies are being done on why people do not want to be vaccinated with third doses and those studies will generate new interventions to be able to try to cover and get the coverage we need.

He emphasized that the more Peruvians of different age groups are vaccinated, the safer we will be and there will be a better response than can happen later. “Let's remember that the pandemic is not over.”

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