Alert: Why are more Dominicans wearing masks again?

The president of the Dominican Medical Association (CMD),  Waldo Ariel Suero, says that the use of face masks has increased in different parts of the country, a citizen response to the circulation of several respiratory viruses, including  influenza, adenovirus, and COVID-19.

Suero explained that the symptoms of these diseases can worsen if people do not receive timely medical attention, so he urged the population to maintain preventive measures and seek care at health centers at the first sign of any complication.

The union leader emphasized that the emergence in cases reflects the need to strengthen epidemiological surveillance and ensure the availability of medications and diagnostic tests. «Prevention remains the best tool to prevent these viruses from becoming a bigger problem,» he stated.

The warning comes amid concerns about the strain respiratory outbreaks are putting on hospitals and clinics, where medical staff are  stressing the importance of influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations,  as well as the responsible use of masks in enclosed spaces.