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“We have to be rational and be regulated by science. Wearing a mask makes perfect sense if you are in a situation where it is not possible to avoid close contact with other people “, but not in all situations abroad, defends the director of the ECDC surveillance department, Bruno Ciancio. , in an interview with Agenzia Lusa.
On the day in which in Portugal the use of masks in public spaces becomes mandatory, precisely because of the situations in which it is not possible to guarantee physical distance, Bruno Ciancio argues that “the use of the mask should not be transformed into a political argument”.
“If I go for a walk I don’t have to wear a mask because the virus is not in the air, but if I attend a meeting abroad where there are 20 to 50 people and we are less than one meter from each other. else, then we must wear outdoor mask because transmission can take place outdoors [nesses casos], although it is less likely, ”he justifies.
The diploma on the compulsory use of masks in public spaces, to combat the covid-19 pandemic in Portugal, states that the measure will have a duration of 70 days and covers people from 10 years of age for “access, circulation or stay in public spaces and streets whenever the physical distance recommended by the health authorities is impracticable “.
Furthermore, it provides that failure to comply with this tax will be punished with fines of up to 500 euros.
Driven by Lusa to comment on the imposition of this type of measures, already in force in other European countries, Bruno Ciancio stresses that the obligation to wear a mask inside and out “depends on the context”, since, in some places, “it is better to be more specific than the implementation of general measures, so that people respect ”.
“We need to make people understand the risks of every situation,” he says.
According to the ECDC expert, it is up to the political decision makers to “facilitate the adhesion of the population” to the containment measures, but it is, in turn, “everyone’s responsibility to respect the measures”.
“And I’m not saying that people should stop making free time, we should all live our lives, but at the same time there are things we can do”, appeals Bruno Ciancio.
The official believes it is “very likely” that these measures to combat covid-19 – such as wearing a mask, physical distance and hygiene rules – will remain in effect “for some time”.
This is because “even if we feel that there will soon be a vaccine, the first target audience will be people who have a higher risk of infection and also health professionals, who at best will cover 2% to 3% of the population”, estimates Bruno Ciancio, underlining that this “will not have an impact on transmission speed”.
However, the expert is “optimistic” about a potential safe and effective vaccine, even though he admits that it is “difficult to predict” deadlines.
It is certain that the European Commission has already signed contracts with three pharmaceutical companies to guarantee vaccines for Europe when they prove effective: AstraZeneca (300 million doses), Sanofi-GSK (300 million) and Johnson & Johnson (200 million).
Based in Sweden, ECDC’s mission is to help European countries respond to disease outbreaks.
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