Masks Will Stay Through 2022, Need Drug Against Covid: NITI Aayog Member

NITI Aayog member Dr VK Paul emphasised that effective medicines were required to stall the progression of Covid in individuals.

There is no wishing away masks even next year as the battle against Covid will require a studied combination of vaccines, effective drugs, and disciplined social behaviour, according to Dr VK Paul, a member of NITI Aayog, India's public policy think-tank. Hoping the world would be as lucky with the medicines as it was with vaccines, veteran paediatrician Dr VK Paul -- not ruling out a third wave of the pandemic -- cautioned that the country was entering a risky period, especially with several public festivals lined up. "Wearing the mask will not go away...for some time...We will continue to wear the mask even through the next year..." Dr Paul told NDTV in an exclusive interview today.   "My view is that it will be a combination of vaccines, drugs, and reasonably disciplined behaviour that will finally (see us through)."