Facemasks can ‘massively reduce’ Covid infection risk, according to latest reported medical studies
Postal December 14 2021
CWU national health, safety & environment officer Dave Joyce tells CWU News why the union strongly supports the indoor mask-wearing mandate recently re-introduced in Royal Mail Group and Post Office Ltd…
“Put simply, masks work,” says Dave. “They are the single most effective non-medical protection for people who have to be indoors with others.”
Last week, the Government widened the rules on mask-wearing to include most indoor public venues, such as cinemas, theatres and places of worship – a measure which followed the decision at the end of November regarding public transport and shops.
And, with the support of the CWU, Royal Mail Group and Post Office Ltd reintroduced an indoor mask-wearing mandate at the beginning of this month.
“It’s extremely frustrating for everyone to see these measures coming back in after we’d all started to hope that the long Covid crisis might be finally coming to an end,” says Dave, “especially for our members who have been absolutely magnificent throughout this whole pandemic despite the enormous pressures on them all.
“But the more we can all do now to reduce the spread of infection, the better to protect everyone’s health. And of course, the better to protect our NHS from being overwhelmed.”
There have been various comments to the effect that the latest Omicron variant of the virus may cause less serious illness than the previous mutations, but Dave points out that “this is by no means clear at this time and although of course we’re all hoping for this, we just don’t yet know.
“So, as has been said, we need to prepare for the worst, while hoping for the best.”
Recent research highlighted in the press last week point to an emerging consensus that mask-wearing may be the single most effective non-medical protection.
Mailonline deputy health editor Connor Boyd and Evening Standard reporter John Dunne both picked up on studies carried out by German and US experts which indicated ‘enormously high’ levels of protection against infection by masks, which were ‘up to 225 times’ more likely to prevent infection when compared to social distancing without masks.
Both articles also cited further research carried out in the UK and published in the British Medical Journal that provide yet more examples of the effectiveness of facemasks.
“The evidence is overwhelming that the simple act of wearing a facemask in these situations is a major help in the fight against Covid,” continues Dave, “and that’s why the Royal Mail indoor mask-wearing mandate is strongly supported by the CWU.
“But we’re also very aware of the importance of adequate ventilation too – and this is another aspect of the battle against infection that the CWU is taking up at workplaces right across the country. I’ve also now asked both RMG and POL for action on ventilation and called for CO2 monitors in all buildings in order to measure air quality and ventilation so as to improve air quality and safety for our members working on those environments.
“While our members continue to do such a fantastic job every single day, this union and the reps at all levels are 100 per cent on the case.
“Please follow the mask rules, raise issues of concern with your CWU representative, and let’s all do everything we can to keep safe and keep well. In that way, we’ll get back to a normal way of working and living without masks and restrictions – which we all want – quicker!”
- For further information, please see LTBs 545/21, 517/21 & 532/21