Mayor of Medellín asked to end the mandatory use of the mask

The use of a mask is no longer mandatory in open spaces in most of the country at the disposal of the health authorities. Now the discussion has been put into total elimination, by a trill of the mayor of Medellín, Daniel Quintero, who launched the proposal through social networks.

“It's time to put an end to the mandatory use of masks in enclosed spaces, airports and mass transport systems,” the president wrote in a Twitter message that quickly aroused users' reactions.

Multiple people responded favorably to Quintero's trill because they no longer want to wear the mask that has been norm for more than two years, since the start of the covid-19 pandemic in the country. Others, on the other hand, were afraid and asked for epidemiological and scientific support to accept his proposal.

In any case, it is not an innovative possibility. Just in recent days there have been news from several countries that have lifted the mandatory use of masks in closed spaces, due to the low number of deaths associated with covid-19. Although, it is worth noting, extreme measures such as strict confinements in China have also been seen.

For example, the Spanish government has already taken the decision to eliminate the requirement for masks in most enclosed spaces such as supermarkets, theaters, gyms, restaurants, among others. Companies will be autonomous to maintain this measure among their workers. It will only be kept in sanitary places and on public transport on a mandatory basis.

In the United States, compulsory status had begun with Joe Biden's mandate, more than a year ago, but was suspended by court order. A controversial decision found that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - the main federal health agency - had exceeded its authority in imposing the requirement, which applies to airplanes, trains, subways and buses, among others.

But following requests from several airlines and republican governments, a judge declared the federal obligation to wear masks on public transport in the United States illegal on Monday, after a tough battle in the courts. The government, through spokeswoman Jen Psaki, assured that it was a disappointing decision and that the recommendation was to continue its use.

France, England and Belgium have already lifted the mandatory use of masks in their countries; while Italy, Portugal and Greece will do so during the last week of April and the beginning of May, based on the incidence of the pandemic.

The World Health Organization, for its part, according to global analyses of the behavior of the pandemic, has maintained the category of the virus and has called for continued care measures, such as the mask.

“It is wrong to believe that fewer cases mean that there is less risk. We are glad that there are fewer deaths, but this virus has surprised us in the past, so we have to keep track of it all the time,” said WHO Director of Health Emergencies Mike Ryan, as quoted by the EFE Agency.

According to Semana magazine, the decision to lift or maintain the use of the mask on a mandatory basis lies with the Ministry of Health, which has not made any determinations in this regard. So it cannot be a local president who can modify the protective measures.

The pandemic has left more than 139,000 dead in Colombia, but since March deaths associated with the virus have fallen, to 2 deaths in the last report, both in Medellin. Likewise, according to chemist David Bautista in a published analysis by Razón Pública, 89% of people in the country (figures from the National Institute of Health) have had contact with the virus, which represents immunity that could lead to overcoming the pandemic.

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