Lithuanian experts suggest allowing only medical masks, easing outdoor wearing rules

  • 2021-02-23
  • BNS/TBT Staff

VILNIUS – Experts suggest that the Lithuanian government allow only medical facemasks or respirators and ease the requirements for wearing them outdoors.

"We propose that (...) facemasks should be worn in open spaces only when there are other people within two meters," Professor Mindaugas Stankunas of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences told a news conference on Tuesday. 

"We also recommend discarding various alternative face coverings, such as scarves or shields, and wearing only medical masks or respirators," he added.

Stankunas expects the recommendations to be submitted to the Cabinet on Wednesday. 

If the government approves the proposal, face shields, fabric facemasks and similar coverings will no longer be allowed in public places.  

"We believe that they aren't effective enough, which has been shown by studies and our consultations with other experts (...) who say that their effectiveness is very low," the professor said.  

Discussions are also underway about making it mandatory to wear respirators in certain settings, especially while providing close contact services, but no decisions have been made yet, he added.