GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — The CEO of Prevea Health, Dr. Ashok Rai, was one of the health officials who urged local officials to mandate masks. He told WTAQ he knows people are frustrated, especially over seemingly-conflicting mask information released by officials over the past several months.
“It’s really important to understand our recommendations are what we know today,” Rai said Monday. “They may change, and they likely will change as we learn more.”
Old warnings from officials saying not to wear or buy masks in February and March also add to the confusion.
“The people who read those articles [earlier this year] have every right to be frustrated if you don’t understand we were talking about two distinct situations; catching it, and [spreading] it,” said Rai.
Rai says masks are effective at stopping the spread of COVID-19 if the mask wearer has the virus, but not particularly effective when it comes to preventing the wearer from becoming infected.
“Masks create a barrier to prevent you from spreading the disease. [Masks] are not going to prevent you from getting COVID-19,” “There is very little protection from it. There’s some, but it’s very little.”
The virus can and does spread even when an infected person is asymptomatic, which is why Rai is encouraging mandatory mask policies. The Green Bay City Council is set to discuss such a proposal on Tuesday night.
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