People wearing face masks walk along Fulton Street in New York, the United States, on Dec. 7, 2022. (Photo by Michael Nagle/Xinhua)
With such a heavy burden of illness straining the health-care system, it may be hard to believe that something as simple as a face mask could make a meaningful difference.
NEW YORK, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- With three highly contagious respiratory viruses sickening adults and children around the United States and holiday gatherings just weeks away, public health officials are beginning to talk about face masks again, reported The Washington Post on Wednesday.
"While mask mandates are unlikely in most parts of the country, health experts are renewing recommendations to wear a high-quality medical mask on public transportation, in airports and on planes, while shopping and in other crowded public spaces," said the report.
Masks are advised to protect against what is being called the "tripledemic," a confluence of influenza, coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) that already is straining hospitals and forcing parents to miss work in record numbers, the report noted.
As the country heads into its third pandemic winter, COVID-19 cases are on the rise, and the 2022-23 flu season is shaping up to be the worst in a decade -- there have already been 4,500 deaths from flu, including 14 children, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"With such a heavy burden of illness straining the health-care system, it may be hard to believe that something as simple as a face mask could make a meaningful difference," said the report, adding that according to health experts, a quality medical mask such as an N95, KN95 or KF94 remains a highly effective line of defense. ■
