Masking is key strategy to impede spread of new variant, says reader

To the Editor:
“Health unit urging caution as more-transmissible COVID-19 variant circulates in area”

I was dismayed to read the following quotation in the Grey Bruce Health Unit’s recent press release:

“Evidence shows that BA.5 is more infectious and is spreading faster than previous strains of Omicron ... The only way to impede this spread is to increase vaccine coverage in the community - it's the best, safest and most effective way to get a handle on COVID-19."

While I agree wholeheartedly that we all have the responsibility to be fully up-to-date with our vaccinations, it is shocking to have it characterized as "the only way to impede this spread."

Vaccinations are just one important layer of protection in our efforts to curb the transmission of COVID-19. The news release goes on to mention other protective measures, such as masking in the context of visiting seniors' homes. 

But why have we abandoned mandatory masking in all public places, especially with the current dominant variant being the most contagious one yet? If we agree that our aim is to reduce transmission, then masking in a wide variety of settings, not just in seniors' facilities, is a vital tool in our arsenal.

With the added factor of school being back in session next week, we are deceiving ourselves if we believe that our up-to-date vaccination status is enough. Masking is a key strategy that should be emphasized far more than it has been.

“Choosing” to mask has placed me in a very small minority from what I have observed this summer. I would love to see courageous leadership in Grey-Bruce mandating masks in public places, including schools, despite the provincial government’s failure to protect us.  This would position us much more strongly to “get a handle on COVID-19.”

Denise Low
Kincardine