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University of Auckland associate professor and microbiologist Siouxsie Wiles said people could be infectious before realising it, which means wearing a good quality mask was important.
“One that fits well and covers your mouth and nose. If you are only wearing a fabric mask, consider upgrading to one that includes a PM2.5 filter or wearing one over a surgical mask.
“FFP2, Kn95, or KF94 masks are good options but beware of where you buy these from as there are many counterfeit masks on the market.
“Masks can be reused, so try to have one for each day of the week, and store in a paper bag between uses. Replace if they become wet or soiled, or the straps loosen so they don’t fit as well.”
Indoor environments where people did not wear masks were high risk for transmission of the virus, Wiles said.
“This is why I am concerned about hospitality and other similar venues.”
Under the ‘red’ setting, hospitality venues, such as cafes, bars, restaurants (excluding takeaway-only businesses) and nightclubs, operating with vaccine pass requirements can have up to 100 people, seated, and spaced at least 1 metre apart.
If a hospitality business chooses not to follow vaccine pass requirements, it can open for takeaway only and should follow the rules for retail.
But Wiles said: “It doesn’t matter if groups of people are seated one metre away from each other, if they are indoors, especially if the place is badly ventilated, then the risk of transmission is high and we’ve seen lots of examples of Omicron spreading in these types of settings overseas. Improving ventilation and introducing air-purifiers are ways to reduce this risk.”
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