COVID: Masks are no longer required, but should we keep on wearing them?

• Author: ROSSELLA TERCATIN
• Date: 15 June 2021
• Published date: 15 June 2021
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

But while masks are no longer mandatory, are there still situations where it is advisable to wear them? Prof. Nadav Davidovitch, director of Ben-Gurion University of the Negev's School of Public Health, and Prof. Cyrille Cohen, head of Bar-Ilan University's immunotherapy laboratory, offered their opinions.

Should vulnerable individuals continue to wear masks?

According to the experts, vulnerable individuals should continue to wear masks indoors and in crowded situations.

"While the masks are primarily intended to protect others from getting infected, they also offer protection to those who wear them, especially against infection that primarily circulates through droplets," Cohen said. "For those who have a weakened immune system, it can be good to have an extra layer of protection, even if they are vaccinated, because the vaccine is not 100% effective, especially for these populations."

This is especially true indoors, and it probably is going to be more relevant in the winter, he said.

Davidovitch said: "I believe that for people who are immunocompromised or elderly, it is a good idea to continue to wear a mask in crowded situations, regardless of COVID, because we see how effective they are in offering protection from various diseases."

What about children in schools?

"If someone feels that they want to have an additional level of protection for their children, they can, but it is not required," Davidovitch said, adding that masks also carry a price in terms of environmental sustainability and that they hide people's faces, among other issues.

Cohen said: "At this...