What would the application of the rule that removes the mandatory use of the mask be like?

The government of Pedro Castillo decreed the cancellation of the mandatory use of masks in open spaces, but with some exceptions, according to the presented by Prime Minister Aníbal Torres at a press conference following a session of the Council of Ministers.

As explained, from Friday, the day when the Supreme Decree is expected to be published, the mask will be worn by whoever wishes on public roads, parks, beaches, among other places outdoors.

“On the optional use of masks, if the decree is published today in the afternoon, it will take effect from tomorrow and whether it will be published tomorrow from Friday, because all regulations come into force the day after its publication,” said the premier Aníbal Torres.

HOW WILL THE STANDARD BE APPLIED?

It should be noted that this measure will not occur throughout Peru, but only in regions that exceeded 80% of the application of the third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The optional use of masks has been agreed in places open to the public, in places where 80% or more of people have been vaccinated with the three doses. The use of a mask in places open to the public is optional, whoever wishes does not wear it,” said the president of the Council of Ministers.

For his part, the head of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), Jorge López Peña, specified that these regions are Ica (85.1%), Callao (84.9%), Metropolitan Lima (83.5%), Lima Provincias (83.0%) and Áncash (80.7%).

These same departments comply with the second provision, which is to have 80% coverage of vaccination with two doses in people aged 12 and over. The order is similar, first is Ica, with 95.7%; followed by Callao (93.4%), Lima Provincias (93.2%), Metropolitan Lima (92.5%) and Áncash (92.1%).

This is in relation to what Minister López said a few days ago about waiting for 80% of the target population to have their third dose against the coronavirus to evaluate the elimination of the mandatory use of the mask in open spaces, as occurs in countries such as Chile and Spain.

However, since there is still no Supreme Decree, for the time being the use of a KN95 mask, or failing that a three-fold surgical mask and on top of it a community mask (fabric), is mandatory, to circulate on public roads and in closed places.

AGAINST OPTIONAL USE OF THE MASK

Earlier today, as rumors began that the State was going to propose the optional use of masks, the Office of the Ombudsman spoke out against it. He assured that, as a precaution to COVID-19, the maximum effort should be made to avoid infections and deaths from coronavirus during the coming months.

“The precariousness of health services and others, such as education, requires us to prioritize care and prudence to deal with COVID-19. The Government must avoid decisions that motivate the neglect of citizens in the face of a pandemic that continues to cause damage,” said the Office of the Ombudsman.

In addition, they recalled that millions of people still need to be vaccinated against coronavirus in our country with the first, second and third doses. “Insufficient immunization requires the use of masks to strengthen the protection of the population and public health,” he said.

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