Letters | Why Hong Kong should not go maskless with abandon

Readers discuss calls for the mask mandate to be dropped entirely, and the relationship between the virtual and the real

Reading Time:2 minutes

People visit the Lunar New Year Fair at Victoria Park on January 16. Photo: Elson Li

Published: 11:30am, 21 Jan 2023

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The city has been cheered by the removal of mandatory quarantine for confirmed Covid-19 cases. Sources have even suggested that the mask mandate will be dropped in March or April at the earliest.

Indeed, a few may find wearing a mask uncomfortable. However, several studies have shown wearing a mask can reduce the spread of Covid-19. While our city’s caseload has significantly declined to just a few thousand in the past two weeks, the death toll has remained as high as 50-60 a day. This suggests that Covid-19 is still a lethal disease. Masks are still important.

At our universities, imagine a few dozen students crowded into a small classroom. There’s no fresh air coming in through windows, only air conditioning. These students have to sit shoulder to shoulder for a three-hour lecture. They often talk to each other at close range in class. Those in the first row may have to be especially careful as the teacher would be talking loudly near them for an extended period.

If there are no restrictions on those with Covid-19, they could go anywhere. It would be risky for students not to wear masks in a crowded environment. Leaving aside that no one can be sure whether these students will suffer from severe or even long Covid, their absence from class may hinder their learning.

The lifting of restrictions may be good news for most Hongkongers. However, we should remain rational and patient.

While the outdoor mask mandate could be dropped first, the government could still require masks indoors for some time to avoid any unforeseen consequences to public health. When the indoor mask requirement is finally removed, people with Covid-19 should still be reminded to wear a mask to prevent transmission.