OREANDA-NEWS. Andrey Pozdnyakov, an infectious disease doctor, candidate of medical sciences, head physician of the Invitro-Siberia clinical diagnostic laboratory, said that during the outbreak of the “omicron” strain of coronavirus, the effectiveness of masks decreased. He noted that because of this strain, many people developed immunity, so the need for masks has disappeared, writes Lenta.ru.

He explained that the masks protected only if the distance was observed and with short-term contact. And even in these cases, they were not very effective. With closer contact, masks do not help even people with immunity.

Other covid restrictions can also be lifted, they are not necessary from a medical point of view, because recently people have massively received immunity after having been ill with "omicron". The number of people who have been ill in large cities, including Moscow, already exceeds 90%, Pozdnyakov said.

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that from Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the requirements for the use of protective masks are also canceled in the capital. In addition, mandatory anti-COVID measures are being canceled at enterprises and organizations, including the regular measurement of body temperature of employees.