Some students becoming impatient with mask mandates

Some North-West University (NWU) students are getting impatient with compulsory mask mandates since the common belief amongst many students seems to be that the pandemic is “over”.  

South Africans welcomed the lifting of the National State of Disaster on Tuesday 5 April 2022 and were excited to say goodbye to mandatory masks and Covid-19 regulations after 750 days, Daily Maverick reported. However, students were disappointed as masks remained compulsory for indoor gatherings, public transport and indoor public premises. 

Suané Smit (22), a fourth-year pharmacy student, said she is in favour of lifting the mask mandates. According to Smit, increased vaccination and removal of masks will improve herd immunity.

According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), herd immunity, also known as population immunity, is the indirect protection from infectious disease through vaccination or immunity through prior infection, the latter of which the WHO does not condone due to unnecessary cases and deaths. The removal of masks is not preferable before herd immunity is reached through vaccinations. 

Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) in the United States of America, said in an interview with CNN “the concept of classical herd immunity may not apply” to the coronavirus as Covid-19 mutates a lot, and not enough people have taken the vaccine. 

Smit said, “currently, we are getting little exposure to normal sicknesses like seasonal flu due to the wearing of masks that prevent building immunity against these illnesses”.

Gabrielle Jordaan (20), a third-year zoology and biochemistry student, said she hasn’t been sick since wearing a mask, but she has developed headaches and skin problems due to prolonged wearing of masks. “It’s like wearing a bra. You don’t necessarily want to, but you do it for the benefit of everyone else,” Jordaan said. 

Illani Havenga (21), an honours student, in advanced corporate communication, said, “I understand the reason for masks and consider it a necessary evil. However, I find the wearing of masks uncomfortable, and I won’t wear it if it isn’t compulsory”.

Louis Jacobs, spokesperson for the  NWU said, “we have to act according to national regulations. Masks outside are not compulsory, but when inside a venue, you have to wear it.”

The proposed transitioning regulations published by the Department of Health under the National Health Act will effectively act as a replacement for the National State of Disaster. The proposal details that masks will remain compulsory for indoor gatherings, public transport and public premises. The comment period initially set for 15 April 2022 was extended to 24 April 2022.