People tire of masks, but doctors in Bengaluru advise caution citing Covid-19 cases in China

People cite various reasons for ditching the mask

The scorching summer sun, low number of COVID-19 cases or simply exhaustion from wearing them for over two years are the reasons being cited by an increasing number of people who are lax about wearing masks. Even in crowded public places, many are now seen without a masks.

Col (retd.) Rajbir Singh, Chief Marshal, BBMP, is in charge of enforcing Covid-19 pandemic precautions. He said at present, no fine is being imposed for not wearing a face mask. “Our team is mostly focusing on public awareness to not remove mask. Various marshal patrol vehicles are working in different crowded places in the city, like K.R. market, railway station and others, but they are not penalising anyone for not wearing a mask,” he said.

People have their reasons for choosing to ditch the mask.

“Sometimes I feel unsafe, especially in crowded places, if I don’t wear a mask. But at the same time, it’s very tough to wear mask all the time. The weather is not helping. When I wear a mask, I feel suffocated,” said Hasibur Rahman, a student.

Retired government official Mahadev thinks otherwise. “People are not wearing masks, but COVID-19 has not gone completely. Whenever I go outside, I feel afraid. I am a senior citizen and a COVID-19 survivor. Yes, mask is suffocating, but it’s better than lying in a hospital bed. I believe as we create the habit of wearing a mask, it will save us from so many things, including pollution,” he said.

Col (retd.) Singh said in the light of the spread of the virus in China, people should continue to wear a mask, at least in crowded places, for their own safety.

Dr. Haleema Yezbani , general physician and diabetologist, who has been volunteering and offering treatment to COVID-19 patients for free, also said it is too early to ditch the mask. “Another variant of COVID-19 is already spreading, and it is still not clear how severe or mild it is. So people should be very careful. I will suggest people to not remove their mask in crowded places, like markets, parks or malls. Keep sanitising and washing your hands. As there are no strict government rules now, people are taking the pandemic lightly. Due to the summer heat, people are more uncomfortable wearing a mask. In that case, they can wear a glass shield on their face,” she advised.