With the spread of the new COVID variant Eris, calls for mask mandates and lockdowns have been resurfacing, despite research showing that masks are not effective.

In preparation, the U.K. has already begun pushing COVID and flu vaccine campaigns a month early, and in the U.S. some hospitals and clinics have already reinstated mask mandates.

The precautions are necessary, according to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who stated, “Deaths are increasing in some parts of the Middle East and Asia, intensive care unit admissions are increasing in Europe and hospitalizations are increasing in several regions.”   

SOURCE:

Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance September 13, 2023