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Doctors say there are benefits to wearing masks, especially in closed and crowded places. Explaining the life cycle of a pandemic, Dr Rajesh Kumar Gupta, a specialist in internal medicine at Burjeel Specialist Hospital in Sharjah, said: “The four pillars of containing the spread of the virus in a typical pandemic – as we have seen over the past two and a half years – — Masks, social distancing, hand hygiene and vaccinations.”
Dr. Rajesh Kumar Gupta
“In the UAE, we are fortunate to have vaccinated 100% of the population. But the virus has not been eliminated, it has gone from epidemic to endemic, which means it continues to exist around us. The process of mutation has slowed down, The virus is also less virulent, but it is still there, although it has been contained and is becoming like the flu infection that people experience every year,” Dr Gupta added.
Dr. Mitchell Lowley
Dr Mitchelle Lolly, a pulmonologist at Prime Hospital, said: “We still have cases. The early mutations in the Alpha and Delta variants are severe and we’re seeing a lot of hospitalizations and deaths. Right now, the most prevalent strain is Omicron, which spreads easily. But not too serious. People complained of coughs, headaches, mild fever, and then the virus spreads to the gastrointestinal tract, allowing the lungs to move freely.”
She added: “Many people are either mildly affected or asymptomatic, and in both cases they are confined to their homes. Cases are still present, but mild. But even today, the best defense is to wear Wear a mask to break the chain of infection.”
She added that people with special circumstances should continue to wear masks in crowded places, explaining: “Vulnerable groups who should continue to wear masks are people over the age of 65; immunocompromised people such as those receiving organ transplants, People undergoing cancer treatment, people with diabetes, heart or kidney disease, and people with a history of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. People with lung disease must be extra careful.”
Dr. Sharifah Ullah
Dr Sharifah Ullah, a family medicine consultant at HealthBay Dubai, said the main benefit of wearing a mask selectively is not only to protect yourself but also your loved ones. “Wear a mask, especially if you’re in contact with people at high risk for Covid-19 or other illnesses. This is to protect yourself and your loved ones,” Dr. Ulla said.
Earlier, Dr Saif Al Dahri, the official spokesman of the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Agency (NCEMA), had said: “We are still in the recovery phase because the virus is still there. We need to continue to observe precautionary measures. The next phase requires all of us to uphold shared responsibility and awareness.”
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