Francesca Rudkin: It's time to ease mask requirements

It really feels like it’s time, doesn’t it. Time to ease mask requirements.

Not because every lucky traveller returning to New Zealand bores you with stories about how the rest of the world has moved on – forgetting where it hasn’t. Not because you’re sick of rummaging in your bag for a half decent mask, through the ones that should have been disposed of long ago or are in need of a wash. And not because spring is here - New Zealand had its highest Covid case numbers during the surge last summer.

It’s time because case numbers and hospitalisations have been dropping, less people are wearing masks in public places and, according to even the epidemiologists, mask wearing is less critical.

Reducing mandates for mask wearing is one of the major changes that will happen if New Zealand drops from the orange traffic light setting to the green traffic light setting – or possibly to a whole new Covid management system. At green, masks will still be encouraged indoors but no longer required at work places.

Advice is currently being sought on how to make the step towards dropping mask wearing requirements, while keeping vulnerable members of our communities safe. The disability sector should feel aggrieved they were given only 24 hours to provide feedback to the government – it sounds like lip service, but I do hope they’re heard.

It makes sense mask wearing will continuing in some areas – such as health services, aged care services and residential services for vulnerable people. I can’t see my GP clinic letting me into the building mask-free in the foreseeable future.

Like most people I don’t enjoy wearing a mask, but out of respect for others, I have worn one where required. I will at green still put a mask on in locations where there’s a valid reason for it and where I’m asked to. It’s just a mask.

But you only have to look around to see that fewer people are wearing masks. I was stunned a couple of months ago to turn up to a crowded cinema complex, which had been very diligent checking vaccine passes and masks on entry, to find hundreds of people attending a film screening without masks.

I felt I’d missed that memo. It was like masks had just gone overnight.

We’re seeing fewer masks in supermarkets, malls, retail, hospo and schools. I attended the Auckland Writers Festival Gala evening last week and there was no pressure to wear a mask and many didn’t.

The nation’s lagging enthusiasm or acceptance for wearing masks will no doubt be considered as the Government reviews the traffic light framework on September 12th. As we’ve seen from the Government this week, it can make surprisingly quick decisions on unpopular policy if it so chooses.

Moving to green means what are requirements in orange become suggestions. The Government may not be prepared to revert to ‘normal’ just yet, but it does seem likely a move will be made on masks. The timing feels right. Wear a mask, or not; it should be up to you.

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