In the Colombian capital, even in closed places, some wear masks, while others ignore the measure that came back into force on Monday regarding their mandatory use in closed spaces.
Why did the Colombian authorities make that decision? What do experts and citizens think? The voice of america explains to you:
Who and where should the masks be used?
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection of Colombia, through Resolution 1238, indicated that “the use of face masks is mandatory for people over 2 years of age in health institutions, nursing homes, in public transport, mass transport stations. , air, land, sea and river transport terminals, regardless the advancement of vaccination“.
Likewise, it should be used by people with comorbidities that generate immunosuppression, who are not vaccinated or when visiting those at high risk, such as newborn babies, older adults and people with comorbidities.
“The use of the mask will also be required in the closed places of the metropolitan areas, conurban areas defined in each department and in the municipalities with a vaccination coverage with a complete scheme of less than 70%, and a booster dose coverage of less than 40%. %,” the ministry said.
Why?
The growing number of cases of COVID-19 set off the alerts of the Colombian health authorities. According to the National Institute of Health (INS) and the report from hospital systems, cases of COVID-19 have increased in Colombia.
Since the beginning of July, the Ministry has indicated that “the country has been presenting an increase in new cases of Sars-CoV-2, derived mainly from the new subvariants of omicron”.
Colombia is going through its fifth peak of infections, with just over 96,000 cases during the last month. In total, the country has accumulated 6.25 million cases and 140,000 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.
“Although at this time we are not in an emergency declaration, it does not mean that the pandemic is over, the virus is still among us,” explained Claudia Cuéllar, director of Epidemiology and Demography of the Ministry of Health.
“Resolution 1238, which was issued on July 21 of this year, establishes these same guidelines, which have been generated from the beginning to avoid contagion in our country,” he added.
Travelers must present vaccination certificate
Cuéllar explained that in the case of Colombians or foreigners of 18 years of age or older who want to travel, they must present the complete vaccination certificate.
In the event that you have an incomplete scheme, add, or have not received any vaccine, you must present a PCR test with a negative result, no more than 72 hours, or an antigen result with a negative result, no more than 72 hours. 48 hours before boarding.
What do the citizens say?
For Blanca de Macías, from Bogotá, who is already retired, it is a measure “necessary for our health and that of those around us.”
Although it is an idea shared by the social communicator Betsy Cubides, for her “the norm is once again difficult to comply with because we were getting used to living without the mask.”
In public transport, people do not comply with the measure, Cubides said.
For Ana Orbegozo, 24, wearing the mask is “super important, since the peaks of COVID are varied and we are not yet physically capable of removing it completely, without having a flu epidemic or respiratory illnesses. I say this from my experience, because when I removed the mask, I suffered from terrible tonsillitis. Since then, I have been wearing a mask, even if it was not prohibited.”
What do the experts say?
More than 230 people have died in recent weeks in Colombia from coronavirus, which for specialists means that Colombians trusted after being vaccinated.
According to Diego Andrés Rosselli Cock, epidemiologist professor at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, the most effective measure in closed environments and where there are crowds is the mask.
“There is a reason why planes and air transport have remained and we must remember that public transport is the time when we are surrounding ourselves the most with strangers and we are exchanging germs the most,” he adds.
Rosselli further clarified that some of the new variants are resistant to the vaccine. “Although the risk of mortality is low, we will continue to perpetuate the disease and not only have we lowered our guard, but we have already gotten tired. I think we have all been through that and how nice to leave the mask!, but in public transport It should be something that we uphold those recommendations.”
The measure should be taken in any closed environment, he said, and, although the risk is lower outdoors, “if there are crowds, even in open spaces, we should wear a mask.”
Cuéllar adds that the ministry must establish the continuity of biosecurity measures, hand washing, the use of face masks and the ventilation of closed spaces.
The president of Colombia, Iván Duque, had announced in April that as of May 1 the use of the mask would not be mandatory indoors, with a few exceptions.
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