SYDNEY, May 13 (Xinhua) -- Voices for a mask mandate emerged in the state of Western Australia as COVID-19 continues to mount up and wreak havoc on an already strained health system.
Western Australia Health recorded 15,565 new COVID-19 cases by 8:00 p.m. local time Thursday, above the 15,000-mark for the third consecutive day.
Of them, 279 people were hospitalized with 12 in intensive care unit.
Western Australia Chief Health Officer Andy Robertson told national broadcaster Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) that as the state could see a COVID-19 caseload of up to 25,000 new infections a day in the coming weeks, he still encouraged people to continue wearing masks if they felt it was necessary.
Western Australia ditched most COVID-19 restrictions on April 30, including capacity limits, and mask mandates in most settings.
Australian Medical Association Western Australia head Mark Duncan-Smith also called on Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan to reintroduce restrictions and said at the very least he was "begging" for masks to be used more broadly to help flatten the curve.
"I think, at a minimum, we need to have masks worn indoors. Masks are cheap, effective, and well-tolerated. And if it protects our medical system and individuals, then it's a good thing to do," he said on Wednesday.
Duncan-Smith said that compared to other states and territories in Australia, Western Australia started the pandemic actions with the lowest number of beds and ICU beds. The lack of capacity and staff in the system has caused some hospitals to declare "code yellows," which means the emergency department is full and unable to accept patients.
"To suppress the curve in that week, there is a danger that our medical system may get smashed. It is in danger of being overrun in the next week."
Robertson said the mandate would be reviewed in the coming weeks. "Some groups, like those dealing with the vulnerable, we may want to maintain the mandates, while there may be other groups where those mandates aren't as critical going forward," he said. ■
