Garth Rattray | Are masks still relevant?

Mr Basil Hanson, (a man who professes to be Christian), publicly claimed that mask-wearing doesn’t help at all. His idea was backed up by a lawyer with similar views. Hanson said that the mandate on COVID-19 precautions had expired, and that we seemed to be doing quite well in terms of positivity numbers.

Obviously, he has no idea that only a positivity rate consistently below five per cent is safe enough to relax (not eliminate) safety measures; in early October 2022, Jamaica’s positivity rate was just above eight per cent. The reason for the current relaxation is based on the reduced impact of the pandemic at this juncture.

Mr Hanson broadcast that, despite his comorbidities, he does not wear masks, and that he has not worn masks since that day that the Disaster Risk Management Act ended. He said that God has stopped the SARS-CoV-2 virus, it has gone, the pandemic is over, and no matter who wants to continue it. He claimed to believe and trust in God wholeheartedly, but betrayed his doubt when he said that, even if it is still here, it is really mild. Contrary to what Hanson believes, people are still becoming sick, suffering debilitating long-term complications, and some are dying from COVID-19 right here in Jamaica.

Hanson stated that there are “totalitarian leaders who want to continue this virus because it’s in their interest”. He went on to publicly call on ‘everyone’ not to support (boycott) any businesses that require visitors to wear a mask when entering them. He said that, if God’s hand touched this virus, other viruses that come cannot amount to anything. When he lambasted doctors and scientists for having failed ‘us’, I wondered if he was taking his doctor-prescribed medications for his comorbidities.

APOLOGISE

He called upon the Medical Association of Jamaica (MAJ) to apologise to the prime minister and to the entire country for disagreeing with the relaxing of anti-COVID-19 measures. However, he erred because, the fact is that the MAJ only criticised the sudden manner in which the country was reopened. Obviously, Hanson does not know that the predicted course or outcome of a pandemic is never absolute. Responsible authorities are required to warn the public of possible worst-case scenarios, and advise accordingly.

I also heard the lawyer, who embraces Mr Hanson’s way of thinking, misquote the president of the United States of America. He claimed that Joe Biden said that the pandemic is over. However, the president said that the pandemic is over [in America]. Pressure caused that statement to be modified to say that the emergency phase of the pandemic is over.

Mr Hanson and the attorney believed that, if the government lifted a health mandate, no one can require safety practices within their particular environment. We all know how ridiculous that is. We each have a right to protect ourselves and others if there is an existing threat. This virus is still alive and active. The good news is that it is mostly asymptomatic. The bad news is that it is constantly mutating. New, more transmissible strains that easily evade our immune system (whether it’s primed by a previous infection or an injection) are emerging in Europe and the East. We can expect them to arrive on our shores sooner or later. Because this virus can mutate into a deadly super bug, we need to remain cautious.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus is a respiratory virus – it is contracted and spread by expelled droplets and aerosols whenever infected people exhale, speak, laugh, shout, sing, cough or sneeze. The droplets vary in size and some even split into smaller sizes after they exit our bodies. Because of gravity, heavier droplets sediment rapidly. Because the droplets are mostly water, evaporation makes them smaller, so they float around (especially indoors) for up to several hours. Some become small, evaporated droplet residues called droplet nuclei. Droplets are also impacted by the sun’s radiation, wind, breezes and eddy currents.

The mesh size of masks, electrostatic surfaces, and Brownian motion (the erratic, random movement of microscopic particles), influence how well they work. The SARS-CoV-2 virus is smaller than the holes in the meshes of masks; but they are always attached to droplets; and they are trapped by masks.

Medical masks, the N95, or KN95 masks, or something close to them, are recommended for this series of viral subvariants. Cloth masks are not very protective against the current strain. The fit of the mask should be snug over the mouth and nose. We are doing better in part because of natural immunity, vaccinations, hybrid immunity and the regulations that were previously mandated. Masks trap outgoing and incoming particles and reduce the risk of spreading infection.

Hanson’s lawyer ally has no standing in the scientific or medical community, yet he appointed himself chief investigator, judge and jury over masks and the wearing of masks. He sentenced masks to obscurity, and then appointed himself police over who wears masks and when.

Contrary to what Mr Hanson et al believe, masks are still relevant. Protecting yourself is your right. We know that [proper] masks reduce the risk of becoming infected, infecting others, and they also reduce the inoculum (the amount/‘dose’ of virus inhaled). Although we are experiencing a pandemic trough, wearing a mask while among crowds, inside confined buildings with strangers, and in public transport vehicles, is safer than going bare-faced.

Garth A. Rattray is a medical doctor with a family practice. Send feedback to columns@gleanerjm.com and garthrattray@gmail.com.