Top doctor Nick Coatsworth delivers a brutal reality check for Aussies still wearing face masks
One of Australia’s top doctors has issued a cheeky message to those still wearing face masks – prompting calls from the Australian Medical Association to bring back Covid masks.
Australia reported 6,550 new Covid cases last week. This surge has led health officials, including AMA Queensland president Maria Boulton, to call for the reinstatement of mask mandates in high-risk settings, such as on airplanes, in large crowds and within medical settings.
However, former Australian deputy chief health officer Dr Nick Coatsworth said Australians should not be overly concerned about the recent spike during an interview with 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
“The Australian Medical Association has quoted 245 COVID-19 hospital admissions with this (current) wave in Queensland, but there are more than a million admissions to Queensland hospitals every year,” he said.
“The suggestion that this is a wave is probably incorrect.”
He also believes reintroducing mask mandates would have little impact.
“That won’t make any difference at this point,” Dr. Coatsworth explained.
“If you say, ‘Look, wear masks in some situations but not in others, don’t social distance and go about your own business,’ then the masks just pollute the environment.”
“We have to be smarter about the way we deal with this.
Some medical experts have renewed calls for the return of mask mandates in high-risk settings as Covid cases rise again
He also criticized advice from scientists who recommended 100,000 concertgoers mask up when Coldplay perform in Perth this weekend.
“That’s just a crazy thing to do,” he said.
‘We must not forget how contagious Omicron is. Putting on a mask at a Coldplay concert is unlikely to be protective.
“And number two, the vast majority of people have had Covid, even the people who claim they never had it. The vast majority of people have also been vaccinated.
‘COVID-19 is now a milder disease because of what we call herd immunity, we have all been exposed to it.
‘Our need to take a cold pill with Covid is becoming even greater.’
Catching up with friends outside is the best way to reduce the risk of catching Covid, according to Dr Nick Coatsworth
Former Australian deputy chief health officer Nick Coatsworth (pictured) described calls to reintroduce mask mandates as insane
Dr. Coastworth isn’t too concerned about the latest spike, but admits it is putting pressure on hospitals.
“The reason why health departments have put this out is because if we get an increase in Covid or any other respiratory virus, it puts pressure on hospitals,” he said.
‘I work in a hospital and you can see the tension, but not because people are getting sick from Covid.
‘Very few people actually get sick from Covid, but it creates an infection control problem where you have to isolate patients and there is bed pressure.
‘But that will happen over the next five to 10 years with Covid and respiratory viruses and we have to find ways to deal with that.
“To be honest, I was on duty yesterday and we didn’t have a single patient with COVID-19 in our acute medical unit.
Dr. Coatsworth highlighted that despite a small increase in hospital admissions, there has been a decline in intensive care admissions due to Covid.
‘It is important to reassure everyone that vaccination is effective.’
The chance of getting Covid outside ‘extremely difficult, if not impossible’, according to Dr Nick Coastworth. The photo shows beachgoers at Bondi
“There are creative, innovative ways that the community can continue to go about its business without constantly talking about bringing back things that realistically public health officials won’t bring back.”
Dr. Coatsworth reiterated health advice to catch up outdoors, where the risk of catching Covid is ‘extremely difficult, if not impossible’.
“It’s always been the right advice, I’m not sure why we didn’t give it at the start of the pandemic,” he said.
‘You’d really have to be on top of someone to catch Covid outside.’
Meanwhile, infectious disease specialist Professor Peter Collignon has made it clear he is against people being forced to wear masks by law.
“If you are at risk or concerned, wear a mask. But no mandates.’
Professor Collignon, a microbiologist at the Canberra Hospital, said there was “little or probably no point” in wearing a mask outside.
He added that masks will provide “some short-term protection” for those concerned about short-term indoor exposure, but that eye protection is also needed.
“What goes into your eyes goes into your nose,” the professor said.