The highly infectious Covid variant saw the reintroduction of rules such as mask-wearing, self-isolation, working from home and vaccine passports when it swept across Britain in November 2021.
New research has found that while these measures helped to halt Covid earlier in the pandemic, they had little to no effect on infection rates after Omicron arrived.
The study conducted by the University of East Anglia (UEA) found that face masks in particular were not effective once the first wave of Omicron had passed, although they had previously helped to reduce infection rates. However, the public was forced to wear them again between November 2021 and January 2022 – having already endured a year of face coverings – with the threat of fines up to £6,400. Masks continued to be recommended and could be enforced by businesses until the April.
The researchers also found that wearing face masks after the first wave of Omicron may have actually increased the risk of children catching Covid during the subsequent waves because they had less immunity.
Wore one maybe four times. Went out of town to normal places. Not "vaccinated" either. Never caught Covid. My neighbors on the right had it four times and they were boosted. The ones on the left twice, also all boosted. Expected me to wear a mask to get my mail or take out the trash. NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! In Croton, got yelled at by a shopper I know from church for not following the arrows like a good little lemming. She had it four times.
ReplyDelete