LOS ANGELES (KNX) – As California’s indoor mask mandates will end in some counties, many events and places are gearing up to let people drop their masks.
Coachella, Stagecoach, and even Disneyland announced on Tuesday they were dropping mask mandates.
Dr. Dean Blumberg, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at UC Davis Health, told KNX In Depth the mandates dropping allow people to take responsibility for their health.
“The beauty of the current situation we’re in now is that previously it was more of public health issue in terms of people getting sick and overwhelming hospitals and health care resources, and now with this Omicron surge decreasing – we’re about one-sixth the peak of the Omicron surge right now – we don’t have those concerns,” he explained on KNX In Depth.
“People can now take responsibility for their own health by choosing, for example, to use N-95 masks since they’re more widely available...”
When it comes to N-95 masks, Dr. Blum referred to a study conducted by the CDC that found those who wore those masks had an 83% decrease risk of getting infected with COVID-19.
“Now that’s not the 95 you would expect but that would be people who are fit-tested and are wearing them properly,” he said. “So 83% is still good.”
When asked about his thoughts on many Super Bowl attendees going maskless, Dr. Blum said it was interesting to see.
“Technically, you’re indoors in the stadium, right? It’s a huge volume of air (in the stadium) and so really the risk isn’t the same as if you’re indoors in a smaller venue, such as somebody’s living room,” he said.
“So the air exchange is high and the air volume is large and I think the risk of infection is basically due to people who you are immediately next to you, the people you’re sit next to. So I hope there’s not a bump related to people going to the Super Bowl and being marginally unmasked, but it was interesting to look at that.”
When can the mandates related to COVID end? Dr. Blum said there has to be partial immunity.
“If we have enough partial immunity, that’s when you can stop with the mandates for the vaccine passports and similarly with the masks where people can take responsibility for their own health,” he explained.
While many might ditch the masks indoors after the mandates end, Dr. Blumberg he’ll stick with the mask.
“I’m gonna wear a mask. It worked well and I’m comfortable wearing them and I don’t want to get COVID so I still think it’s prudent for individuals to make up their own minds and decide to wear masks if they want to be protected.”
Listen to the full interview in the audio above.
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