VASCO
Noted pulmonologist and former State IMA President Dr Anil Mehndiratta on Saturday said cases of asthma and tuberculosis have gone on a rise with a decline in the use of masks.Dr Mehndiratta also feared Goa could witness yet another Covid wave if people ignore the masks amid demand for a mask-free Goa.
"We had seen in the last few years that people were wearing masks and remained indoors and cases of asthma and tuberculosis had come down,” Dr Mehndiratta told reporters.
“But with people now moving around in open areas without masks, this has led people to be exposed to dust and other factors, resulting in a significant rise in Asthma cases, especially in the last two months.”
“Basically, people are become very relaxed and think the state has become Covid-free and have begun moving in public areas without masks. Asthma patients have been exposed to dust particles and they go to public places more prone to infection," said Dr Mehndiratta.
“We have been advising asthma patients to start using reliever medications as cases are on the rise and preventive inhalers help in preventing asthma attacks in the long term.”
Going by the trend in certain states, Dr Mehndiratta said a fourth Covid wave could hit Goa by June-July.
“But this can be prevented if people continue to wear masks in public areas. If mask usage is discontinued, we may see the fourth wave and we don't know what kind of severity we may have to face later on," said Dr Mehndiratta.
"We cannot afford to be mask-free at this stage, with schools opening up and tourists arriving in Goa. We don’t need to screen every tourist but we must be responsible in wearing a mask to prevent the spread of Covid because the government cannot monitor each and every person all the time. Recently, the North Goa collector has issued orders to continue wearing masks in public areas," he added.
