Will wearing mask protect from omicron?
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Hello, as the number of cases of omicron is in rise day by day we need to again strictly follow the COVID appropriate behavior. Will wearing mask protect from omicron? Do we have to wear mask again? Please elaborate on this.
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@senjuti The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and its ability to be highly transmissible than the Delta variant has raised a lot of doubts among people over the efficacy of masks and their ability to provide protection. While such fears are well-founded, the fact also remains that multiple health care agencies including the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Centres for Disease Control (CDC), US and World Health Organisation (WHO) have recommended wearing masks, regardless of whether people are vaccinated or not. This is the right time for all to upgrade from the single-layer cloth masks or surgical masks and instead go for a double layer mask or embrace N95 masks, which could offer even more protection, public health officials said. Masks are not variant-specific and if worn well, then they can provide protection to individuals by filtering-out virus particles from the air that people breathe.