So what does Belize's leading public health expert think of the whole mask thing?
Well, not much, apparently. Today, DHS Marvin Manzanero that the wearing of masks is actually the least important public health practice we can do to prevent the spread of COVID 19. And, while it does play a role, there is a public education component which may be lacking:
Dr. Marvin Manzanero, DHS
"I have said also that I am a little bit concern and worried when you walk down the street or drive through and you see people just wearing masks inappropriately, so in point a potential benefit can give you other headaches because you can have other diseases. I did say also that we would have to have some level of discipline, some level of educational process as we move along towards wearing a mask. I know that there is some anecdotal evidence that suggest that it seems to work, but I also said that its more discipline societies that have used it for a extended period - Asian society seem to thrive much better and I have not seen any public health agency other than CDC make a recommendation for the use of masks, at least in the western hemisphere."
"For us, it allows for us to go back and see how we can educate people - cant forger the handwashing, can't forget the physical distancing and look at the masks situation for sure. We might not necessarily agree with the way masks are being suggested to be use in certain sectors for example wearing a mask while you are running, wearing a mask on your bicycle - those kind of measures that we may have to take a look at from the public health standpoint and ensure that the science leads with evidence. We cannot just be making recommendations if there is no evidence behind it."
"The mask situation is something that we are looking at and we should be able to publish a specific recommendation in writing to the relevant committees as to what our position is going to be for the Ministry of Health. What age groups as well, there is no recommendation for children under 2 to be wearing a mask, you have the danger of suffocation amongst other things. I think we need to be guided by evidence all the time."
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