Just when the ray of hope started to shine a little brighter and we all started thinking about things getting back to normal, Omicron, the new variant of coronavirus seems to drag the world back into a lockdown phase. While the deadly Delta variant created havoc and devastation in the world, the newly found Omicron variant is reported to be less fatal (than Delta), but at the same time, it’s also spreading quicker. And with the number of new Covid-19 cases witnessing a sudden spike in many countries, governments have been taking necessary steps to stop Omicron from spreading.

The Omicron variant, which was first identified and reported in South Africa, has spread across the globe. On Thursday morning, India reported 7,495 new Covid-19 cases, with the tally of Omicron cases reaching 269. While WHO continues to study more about the new mutated variant, they have already issued a statement declaring Omicron to have a higher rate of transmission which can reduce vaccine efficacy.

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But the current topic that has gained momentum and grabbed everyone’s attention is: if cloth face mask helps you protect from Omicron? According to Trish Greenhalgh, professor of primary health care services at the University of Oxford, cloth masks can be ‘really good or really terrible’ depending on its fabric. While double and triple-layered cloth masks made with different materials are considered to be more effective, single layered face masks were termed as ‘fashion accessories’ by Greenhalgh.

Meanwhile, Greenhalgh also compared cloth face masks with N95 respirator masks and suggested that one needs to make sure that their mask filters out 95% of particles to meet health standard. He also highlighted the point that one must be able to breath comfortably and also make sure they cover the mouth and nose properly.

While UK has already re-introduced a couple of protocols and made face-masks compulsary in outdoor public areas and crowded places, many other countries are also following their lead. Meanwhile, Canadian government has also urged its citizens to use multi-layered masks for safety reasons. Meanwhile, medical analyst Dr Leana Wen in a recent TV interview also stated that cloth masks are useless in the fight against the spread of the Omicron variant and therefore suggested everyone to wear three-layer medical masks.

I do not think that Mayor De Blasio should cancel NYC’s New Year celebration. This is outdoors & requires vaccination. Yes, omicron is surging, but we need to continue activities that are of high-value while adding precautions that reduce risk. @BilldeBlasio @VictorBlackwell pic.twitter.com/tyOfQ5fT7g

— Leana Wen, M.D. (@DrLeanaWen) December 20, 2021

SEE ALSO: Omicron Spreads Faster, Reduces Vaccine Efficacy According To WHO; India Records 38 Cases

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