Five questions and answers to understand how the optional use of masks will be applied

The Ministry of Health ordered that as of May 1, the use of masks in open spaces will no longer be compulsory. After two years of pandemic, this is an indication that little little by little the country is returning to normal. These five key points of the optional use of masks will help us to better understand how this regulation will be applied.

1. Are there conditions for the use of masks to be optional in my region?

According to César Munayco, executive director of Public Health Surveillance at the National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control of Minsa, it has been decided that the use of masks will no longer be compulsory only in regions where two conditions are met: that 80% of people over 60 years old have the age of 3 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, and that 80% of the population over 12 years old have both doses.

It should be emphasized that, to date, the only regions that meet these requirements are Metropolitan Lima, Lima Provincias, Callao, Ica and Áncash.

2. Does this new measure have any restrictions?

According to the specialist, this new measure announced by Minsa has no restrictions. This is because they argue that each person is free to choose whether to wear the mask or not in an outdoor space. However, it recommended to the population that certain groups continue to use masks, for example, for cancer patients or patients with other serious illnesses.

It is important for the population to evaluate the conditions and in which situations they feel comfortable or feel that it is necessary to wear a mask, since the COVID-19 pandemic is not over yet.

3. Is social distancing still mandatory?

Yes, social distancing is still a nationally mandatory measure.

4. Could this new declaration have negative effects on the country?

There is information that the transmission of COVID-19 in open spaces is not as accelerated as it would be in closed spaces. However, for Óscar Gayoso, a pulmonologist at the Cayetano Heredia Hospital, there is still a possibility that canceling the mandatory use of masks could result in an increase in cases. He also pointed out that the national health system is not so robust as to be able to deal with this increase.

This is a position also shared by the Medical College of Peru, whose dean, Raúl Urquizo, said he was against this measure. On the other hand, Oscar Ugarte, former Minister of Health, said he is very concerned that one of the requirements for lifting the mandatory nature of masks is the application of the second dose. According to the specialist, two doses of the vaccine do not provide enough protection for people.

5. Could the measure change?

Yes. As announced during the press conference of the Council of Ministers, this new measure is subject to the epidemiological environment that arises, with regard to the reduction of COVID-19 cases or deaths. This means, according to Munayco, that if after implementing the regulations the picture changes and there is a rise in infections, the norm could be changed.

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