News
AMA (WA) advocacy confirms masks are still required at doctors’ offices, for doctor and patient safety
Friday April 29, 2022
The AMA (WA) has sought clarification from the WA Government, and current active public health directives include doctors’ offices as still being a place mandatory to wear facemasks. This includes GPs’ and specialists’ offices.
Facemasks are a simple, well-tolerated and effective way to reduce the transmission of COVID-19.
8,889 cases yesterday is only 865 cases less than the previous peak at the end of March. Only 15 per cent of the population of WA has tested positive to COVID and allowing for unknown cases, possibly only one-third of the population of WA has had COVID.
Restrictions flatten the curve, and as we are currently on a plateau phase of the pandemic, being only 9 per cent less than the March peak of 9,754, there is a lot of COVID still to be caught.
Comments attributed to AMA (WA) President Dr Mark Duncan-Smith:
“It’s important to have this clarification that doctors’ offices are high-risk settings and masks are required.”
“People who are elderly, vulnerable or concerned should freely and without mockery continue to wear masks if they wish to do so, and are in fact encouraged to do so by the AMA (WA).”
“If people voluntarily continue to wear masks indoors, the general public should applaud them, as they are continuing to protect themselves and those others around them from COVID.”
“Rather than cold-shouldered, they should be given a thumbs up.”
