The use of masks indoors has become a topic of debate and also controversy in the last week, given the possible elimination of this measure in the Interterritorial Health Council that will be held this Wednesday.
After surveying the opinion of Lanzarote residents in an survey conducted on Instagram, La Voz de Lanzarote now wanted to know the position of different sectors, approaching health professionals, but also other groups. And their answers show that there are divided opinions even among colleagues.
The head of Epidemiology of the Canary Islands believes it is too early to remove them
Amós García, head of Epidemiology of the Canarian Health Service (SCS), believes that we should wait a little longer to treat this virus like the flu and remove masks indoors. "I would remove it in normal or low incidence values," he says, pointing out that currently that incidence is at medium risk. Specifically, he believes that it should be less than 100 cases per 100,000 inhabitants; when the latest official data, from March 30, placed the cumulative incidence at 14 days in Spain at 391.
"It can be achieved very soon, I don't think we have to wait long to achieve it," defends Amós García, who did not want to set a date or talk about "before or after Easter." "When the pandemic indicates it," he insists, reiterating that it is still too early.
“If we get rid of a valuable instrument in the area where the most infections occur, it may mean an increase in the cumulative incidence. And although vaccines have meant that most are mild or asymptomatic cases, there is always a percentage that requires admission to the ICU, and it is not the same that that percentage refers to 10,000 cases than to 1,000,” he warns.
A pediatrician advocates for a progressive withdrawal
Omar Guillén, pediatrician at the Doctor José Molina Orosa hospital, considers that it is still too early to remove them from interiors, especially in places where vulnerable people are treated such as hospitals, so he proposes removing them progressively to be able to analyze transmission levels without causing another wave.
In addition, as a child doctor, he insists that, in the event that they were removed from schools, ventilation protocols should be reviewed, as well as the number of children per classroom, since the safety distance is more complicated among them and could mean ways of contagion for vulnerable people and for teachers.
"This pandemic has had a clearly different behavior in children, with complications being very rare in their cases, but they can become great spreaders," recalls the doctor. "Reviewing the protocols would be essential, as well as not letting our guard down and tightening the surveillance of new variants."
Two nurses and a nurse from Molina Orosa, with different positions
Laura González, a surgery nurse at the Molina Orosa hospital, believes that masks should be removed from leisure, restaurants and sports activities, among others, but considers that it is essential that they be permanently maintained in social health centers.
“We have experienced very hard times in the hospital due to our exposure to the coronavirus, where our lives have been affected at a work and personal level,” says Laura. “Masks are a tool that also helps prevent other diseases such as the flu, so I think it should be one of the lessons we maintain in the coming years to protect the most vulnerable.”
Patricia Sancho, an emergency nurse, agrees with Laura and also advocates keeping them exceptionally in closed spaces where contact with vulnerable people can be prolonged and pose a risk to them, such as transport, waiting rooms and hospitals. In any case, she points out that “it is a virus that is here to stay, so you have to accept that there will always be certain levels of transmission.”
For his part, emergency nurse Alberto Díaz differs from his colleagues and maintains that their widespread use should not be mandatory even within hospital facilities today, since there are ways to protect oneself. “If someone is afraid of contagion, they can always use an FFP2 mask to protect themselves, but it should be an optional measure.”
The tourism and hotel business associations have different views
From the business association of the tourism sector, one of the most economically affected by the pandemic, Susana Pérez, president of the Lanzarote Tourism Federation and Asolan, is cautious and states that the decision should be based on reports and epidemiological criteria. However, she also points out that lifting the masks before Easter may be a premature measure, as it is a period of important crowds and travel.
For his part, Cristóbal Sánchez, president of the Lanzarote Hospitality Business Association (Hostelan), is forceful in defending their elimination, citing other European countries as an example, where masks are no longer mandatory in any circumstance and considers that they have not had important consequences. Of course, he advocates keeping them in health centers and residences, as well as in public transport. In addition, he questions that currently "the rule exists, but it is not currently being complied with in many establishments such as bars and nightclubs, so now all that remains is for the rule to adapt to reality".
Conflicting opinions among workers' unions
For their part, two union representatives differ in terms of their use. Vanesa Frahija, island secretary of the Workers' Commissions (CCOO) advocates for the use of mandatory masks indoors, especially in public-facing jobs. “Workers continue to expose themselves to crowds every day, with shifts of up to eight hours where they are in contact with many people, so I think it is too premature,” says Vanesa Frahija.
Meanwhile, César Reyes, general secretary of UGT Lanzarote, is in favor of their removal, although he considers that it is a matter that should be analyzed individually, since it may be that within the same workplace some employees have to use it and others do not, due to issues of safety distance and ventilation, among others. “Health centers are a good example, since a nurse may have to wear a mask because she is in direct contact with patients, but someone from administration may not.”
