Even those who are fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks, the World Health Organization warns, in order to slow the spread of the Delta variant of COVID-19.
Although in several countries, (including the US), have relaxed mask requirements in recent weeks, the WHERE warns that new, highly virulent variants of the coronavirus could pose a very big problem.
The Delta variant of COVID-19 is one of the most recent observed, but also one of the most worrying for scientists. Cases are on the rise in the US and as of last week, 1 in 5 recent coronavirus cases was from the Delta variant, according to CNBC.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Delta variant is set to become the second most common type of COVID-19 in the United States in the first half of June.
Current mRNA vaccines being developed in the US, by Pfizer and Modern, are believed to be effective against the Delta variant. However, World Health Organization officials warn that the increasing prevalence of the variant means that even people who have been vaccinated should not ditch the masks.
"People can not feel safe just because they did both doses," said Dr Mariangela Simao, of the WHO. "They must continue to be protected."
The vaccine will not stop the spread of COVID-19. Although it works as designed (to reduce the severity of symptoms and overall impact of coronavirus infections, thereby dramatically reducing the chance of hospitalization or death) immunization will not occur. The vaccine simply reduces the chance that something serious will occur damage.
"People need to continue to use masks consistently, to be in ventilated areas, and to be careful with hand hygiene," added Dr Simao. if you have been vaccinated while the virus continues to be transmitted. ”
So the WHO is appealing to those who have already been vaccinated to continue wearing a mask when circulating in public. This way, people who have not been vaccinated will be at less risk. It is not just altruism that can motivate. If variants of COVID-19 allow it to spread faster, there is a chance that they will mutate further and become even faster, with unpredictable effects even on those who have been vaccinated.
