Doctors want face masks to stay compulsory
Worried doctors are urging the Government to reconsider its controversial plan to abandon mandatory facemasks in England.
In a strongly worded statement, the BMA urged the Government to reconsider its course of action and implement some of the necessary measures such as the continued mandatory wearing of face masks in enclosed indoor public settings.
It said this should continue until the rampant spread of infection was brought under control and more people were fully vaccinated.
Dr Chaand Nagpaul
BMA council chairman Dr Chaand Nagpaul said it was ‘incredibly concerning’ to listen to the Chief Medical Officer speak about the alarming rise in cases, doubling of hospitalisations and certainty of more deaths, and for the Prime Minister to decide to go full steam ahead with the easing of all mitigations regardless.
He claimed there was a clear disconnect between the Government’s planned actions and the data and views of the scientific community and medical profession.
Dr Nagpaul continued: ‘Why is the Prime Minister knowingly putting more people at risk of becoming ill when masks are proven to be effective and can reduce spread of infection? It will also impact on the economy and businesses if more staff become ill and unable to work.
‘The emphasis on personal responsibility around mask-wearing and other safety measures is incoherent, as many of these measures, such as mask-wearing, do not in the main protect the individual but those around them.
‘This cannot be about “personal choice” when the risk comes from others around you not wearing them. It is inconceivable that the Government would allow for people, many of whom have no choice but to get public transport or be in confined places, to have to take the risk of becoming ill, particularly those who have not been fully vaccinated or cannot take the vaccine for health reasons.’