Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Face masks could have to be worn until end of 2022

Face masks could have to be worn until end of 2022

Face masks, hand washing and one-way systems may be needed even after the entire population is vaccinated for Covid, scientists have warned.

Papers released by the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) say ‘baseline measures’, which include regular hand washing and face coverings in public places, will still be necessary even as life returns to normal.

Boris Johnson unveiled a five-step roadmap out of lockdown on Monday, which will see all limits on social gatherings lifted by June 21st at the earliest.

Epidemiologists tracking the spread of Covid have warned against a return to pre-Covid behaviour if lockdown ends this summer.

Researchers at Imperial College London said mask wearing should be ‘normalised’ and could be necessary throughout 2021 ‘and beyond’.

Meanwhile, minutes from a Sage meeting on February 11 say baseline policies, plus additional measures, could be needed for almost another two years, until the end of 2022.

The minutes state: ‘Retaining a baseline set of policies to reduce transmission after other restrictions have been lifted would reduce the scale of a resurgence.

‘A set of policies has not been modelled, but could include voluntary measures (e.g. hygiene measures, mask wearing in certain situations, avoiding crowding), environmental measures (e.g. ventilation), and test, trace, and isolate systems.

These and potentially additional measures may be needed throughout Winter 2021/22.’

The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown


Plans for a return to normality by Easter were axed after modelling from scientists found this could cause a third wave of infections and 91,000 deaths by next June.

Scientists analysed a series of scenarios and found that even a cautious lifting of lockdown and high vaccination rates could cause 30,000 deaths by June 2022. That ‘best case’ scenario assumes baseline measures would remain in place.

The papers explain baseline measures reduce the ‘R rate’ so all modelling has been calculated on the assumption they would remain in place, rather than a return to pre-Covid behaviour, when lockdown ends.

A paper from The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling (SPI-M), a SAGE subgroup, states: ‘The combination of a gradual approach to the easing of restrictions could, if vaccines are highly effective and rapidly rolled out and longer-term baseline measures remain in place, achieve a significant reduction in transmission, keeping further resurgences well below the level of those seen in January 2021.’

Scientists said they had ‘high confidence’ baseline measures would reduce a resurgence if kept in the long term.

The paper adds: ‘Maintaining baseline measures to reduce transmission once restrictions are lifted is almost certain to save many lives and minimise the threat to hospital capacity.’



This is in line with a poll carried out by the New Scientist which found the majority of infectious disease experts believe mandatory wearing of face masks in shops and on public transport should stay in place in the UK until next year.

Imperial College London scientists suggested some measures may have to ‘remain in place (and adhered to) throughout 2021 and beyond’. They said it will be ‘vital to emphasise the importance of normalising and ensuring adherence to all measures even after “full lifting” is achieved.’

The Government’s roadmap out of lockdown also suggests some measures will be kept indefinitely.

The document published last night states vaccines are not 100% effective and will not be given to everyone, because take up is not mandatory and it is not authorised for use in children yet.

It goes on: ‘This could mean that some measures to limit transmission are still needed after all adults have been offered a vaccine. These could include guidance such as ‘hands, face, space’, maintaining the Test, Trace and Isolate system and controls at the border.’

Rules on wearing face masks could be kept until next year, or even longer


The plan for lifting lockdown will see schools open on March 8, before larger gatherings of six people outdoors are allowed on March 29. Retail and outdoor hospitality will be allowed by mid-April, before indoor mixing gets the go-ahead in May.

It is hoped all Covid restrictions – other than ‘baseline measures’ – will be scrapped by June, paving the way for nightclubs to reopen.

Boris Johnson said today he is ‘very optimistic’ that the June 21 target will be met, though he added ‘nothing can be guaranteed’.

Some Tory backbenchers had wanted a faster return to normality, but the PM yesterday dismissed the criticism, saying he would not be ‘buccaneering’ with people’s lives.

Scientists have also backed the cautious approach.

Some restrictions could be kept in place after everyone has been vaccinated


Speaking before the Prime Minister unveiled his ‘roadmap’, the UK’s chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said there is a risk of ‘flying blind’ if all restrictions are scrapped at once.

In the briefing to journalists, he said that while vaccines are expected to make ‘a big difference’, there are still uncertainties around vaccine efficacy, the proportion of the population that will have the jab, the level of restrictions needed longer term, and whether the virus will be seasonal.

Backing a gradual approach to lifting lockdown he added: ‘Even with high vaccine levels, and indeed quite high vaccine coverage, it’s important to remember a large number of people in the population remain unprotected.

‘It’s likely you get an increase in cases when you start to open up – exactly when that occurs and exactly how high the numbers are, it’s not possible to be precise.

‘The sooner you open up everything, the higher the risk of a bigger resurgence. The slower you do it, the better.’

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
Western Europe Records Hottest June on Record
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
China’s Central Bank Consults European Peers on Low-Rate Strategies
France Requests Airlines to Cut Flights at Paris Airports Amid Planned Air Traffic Controller Strike
Poland Implements Border Checks Amid Growing Migration Tensions
Emirates Airline Expands Market Share with New $20 Million Campaign
Amazon Reaches Milestone with Deployment of One Millionth Robot
Yulia Putintseva Calls for Spectator Ejection at Wimbledon Over Safety Concerns
House Oversight Committee Subpoenas Former Jill Biden Aide Amid Investigation into Alleged Concealment of President Biden's Cognitive Health
Amazon Reaches Major Automation Milestone with Over One Million Robots
Extreme Heat Wave Sweeps Across Europe, Hitting Record Temperatures
Meta Announces Formation of Ambitious AI Unit, Meta Superintelligence Labs
Robots Compete in Football Tournament in China Amid Injuries
China Unveils Miniature Insect-Like Surveillance Drone
Marc Marquez Claims Victory at Dutch Grand Prix Amidst Family Misfortune
Germany Votes to Suspend Family Reunification for Asylum Seekers
Budapest Pride Parade Draws 200,000 Participants Amid Government Ban
Southern Europe Experiences Extreme Heat
Xiaomi's YU7 SUV Launch Garners Record Pre-Orders Amid Market Challenges
Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez's Lavish Wedding in Venice
Russia Launches Largest Air Assault on Ukraine Since Invasion
Massive Anti-Government Protests Erupt in Belgrade
Iran Executes Alleged Israeli Spies and Arrests Hundreds Amid Post-War Crackdown
Hungary's Prime Minister Criticizes NATO's Role in Ukraine
EU TO HUNGARY: LET THEM PRIDE OR PREP FOR SHADE. ORBÁN TO EU: STAY IN YOUR LANE AND FIX YOUR OWN MESS.
Hungarian Scientist to Conduct 30 Research Experiments on the International Space Station
NATO Members Agree to 5% Defense Spending Target by 2035
NATO Leaders Endorse Plan for Increased Defence Spending
U.S. Crude Oil Prices Drop Below $65 Amid Market Volatility
International Astronaut Team Launched to Space Station
Macron and Merz: Europe must arm itself in an unstable world
Germany and Italy Under Pressure to Repatriate $245bn of Gold from US Vaults
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Alleged Mossad Operatives After Sabotage Claims
Trump Praises Iran’s ‘Very Weak’ Response After U.S. Strikes and Presses Israel to Pursue Peace
Oil Prices Set to Surge After US Strikes Iran
BA and Singapore Airlines Cancel Dubai Flights Amid Middle East Tensions
Trump Faces Backlash from MAGA Base Over Iran Strikes
Meta Bets $14 B on Alexandr Wang to Drive AI Ambitions
FedEx Founder Fred Smith, ‘Heart and Soul’ of the Company, Dies at 80
Chinese Factories Shift Away from U.S. Amid Trump‑Era Tariffs
Pimco Seizes Opportunity in Japan’s Dislocated Bond Market
Labubu Doll Drives Pop Mart to Status as China’s Most Valuable Toy Maker
Global Coal Demand Defies Paris Accord Goals
United States Conducts Precision Strikes on Iran’s Nuclear Sites
US strikes Iran nuclear sites, Trump says
×