kolkata following a minor surge of covid a section of citizens and health workers are wearing masks again adding to the demographic of those who never discarded the mask since the first wave and have adapted it as a lifestyle for health fashion and other social contexts pulmonologist arup halder said he has noticed a marked spike in mask usage since winter by both hospital staff and patients covid has enhanced a civic consciousness and social responsibility most people were masks selectively choosing sensitive occasions to wear them like in crowded public transport or in hospitals as a result of this increased awareness of hygiene even doctors are falling sick less he said most maskwearers are those who never stopped wearing them since the first covid wave health is the major incentive for continuing the use of masks along with a precaution against covid adenovirus and seasonal flu a number of citizens have begun donning masks to prevent dust and pollen allergies and air pollution security guard tapas sarkar said after government regulations made masks mandatory i noticed that i no longer had itchy red eyes and sniffles that i used to due to working on a busy road a pedestrian in new market debarati ghosh said i always keep a mask with me and wear it when i am in polluted or dusty spaces or travelling in public transport vanity and fashion have become additional functions for mask as well student kanchan arya said a mask stops her from getting a tan and reduces the need for sunscreen ujan ganguly who owns a clothing line said many youths who enjoy kpop and korean and japanese culture wear masks to replicate the fashion trends prevalent in those countries it had been common for people in japan and south korea to wear masks in public well before the pandemic another pedestrian said she liked wearing masks as they reduce the pressure of having to look presentable all the timeshopkeeper dharmendra yadav said that after a dip in sales he has had regular sales of masks since winter averaging at six purchases a week