Masking Requirements

Mask requirements should continue because, while irritating, they are a cost-effective way of reducing spread.

Current Policy

Currently masking requirements are dependent upon the traffic light level. Under the Red setting, masks must be worn in practically every indoor setting, except for homes and workplaces that are not public facing. Under the Orange setting, masks must be worn in most indoor settings, including public transport, taxis, and retail stores, but not hospitality. At the Green setting, masks must be worn only on domestic flights but are encouraged in other indoor settings. It is worth noting that the traffic light system, announced on 22 November last year, was not designed with Omicron in mind.

Exemptions can be gained with minimal scrutiny by contacting the Disabled Persons Assembly.

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Potential Benefits

A 2021 paper reviewing worldwide mask use in 2020 summed up the potential benefits: “Reducing disease spread requires two things: limiting contacts of infected individuals via physical distancing and other measures and reducing the transmission probability per contact. The preponderance of evidence indicates that mask wearing reduces transmissibility per contact by reducing transmission of infected respiratory particles in both laboratory and clinical contexts.”

The same paper concludes:

“The available evidence suggests that near-universal adoption of nonmedical masks when out in public, in combination with complementary public health measures, could successfully reduce the effective reproduction rate to below 1, thereby reducing community spread if such measures are sustained.”

Those findings were in the context of earlier variants. As with most things, Omicron appears to be changing the game with masking rules. The CDC advises that masks are critical for preventing the spread of Omicron, but the type of mask has become more critical due to the nature of Omicron. Low quality masks unlikely to make much difference to the transmission of the virus. The Government has already recognised this by requiring, in the Prime Minister’s words, “an actual mask”.

Well-worn and high quality masks can help prevent spread, however there are currently no studies of mask effectiveness against community spread of Omicron that are equivalent to the review quoted above.

We can only conclude that mask wearing likely has significant benefits for reducing the spread of Omicron, although this is sensitive to mask quality.

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Costs

A number of costs have been identified, the most obvious being the costs of masks themselves. There is also considerable debate around comfort, oxygen supply, communication, and social anxiety. These concerns are particularly acute when children and people requiring sensitive services such as counselling are involved.

There is also the lack of normalcy that comes with people covering their faces in most social situations, and frustration with illogical rules such as being able to sit in a restaurant unmasked but having to put a mask on to go to the toilet.

All of these costs are difficult to quantify, but they are certainly significant.

Conclusion

Mask requirements, while extremely irritating, are one of few current policies where it is reasonable to believe that the benefits may outweigh the costs.

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LET'S MOVE ON

Prime Minister: Give us control of our lives again by removing restrictions that no longer stack up.

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Masking Requirements

SIGN ACT'S PETITION:

LET'S MOVE ON