Khaberni - With the increase of COVID-19 cases in the United Kingdom and expectations of an infection wave rising during the winter, Swiss experts in epidemiology and immunology have called for the reintroduction of wearing masks in crowded public places, just three years after the official declaration of the pandemic's end.
Experts from Switzerland have confirmed that wearing masks remains an effective means of limiting the spread of respiratory viruses, especially among groups more vulnerable to serious illness such as the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.
The experts explained that wearing a mask remains a personal choice available to those who wish to reduce the risk of infection, or to express a spirit of solidarity and responsibility towards others, according to the "Mirror" website.
Tanja Stadler, an epidemiology specialist at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich) and head of the scientific working group for COVID, said: "In enclosed and crowded spaces such as public transport, it is advisable for at-risk individuals to wear masks, and even those not at risk can protect themselves from troublesome infections."
Stadler ruled out that governments would return to mandating masks as during the peak of the pandemic, but she called for the creation of a "virus bulletin" to inform citizens about the locations of disease outbreaks.
She noted that data on virus spread already exist but are not readily accessible to the public, adding that making it available "would enable people to take preventative steps themselves."
In the same context, Marcel Tanner, Emeritus Professor of Public Health at the University of Basel and former member of the COVID task force, said that wearing a mask should not only be confined to the pandemic period but should become a health habit when suffering from colds or the flu, particularly in public transport.
A new strain increases infections in the United Kingdom
According to data from the British Health Security Agency (UKHSA), about 2,459 new cases were recorded in the week ending September 24, up 7.6% compared to the previous week.
The majority of the cases are attributed to a new strain of the coronavirus known as Stratus, which includes variations XFG and XFG.3.
The experts noted that the new strain could cause severe hoarseness in the voice along with traditional symptoms such as fever and fatigue, but there are no indications that it is more severe or deadly than previous strains.
The World Health Organization has confirmed that the Stratus strain is classified as low-risk despite its rapid spread compared to other variants.
According to the organization, the available evidence does not indicate an increase in the severity of the illness or an increase in associated health risks due to this strain, it explained.
Despite the increase in cases in some Southeast Asian countries, there are no indications that the disease resulting from this strain is more dangerous than others.
