Why We Should Wear Face Masks During COVID-19

In general, I’ve been wearing a mask when I’m out and about.  I continue to believe that maintaining adequate distance between me and the next guy is more important than masking up.  I’ve seen many folks who must not agree with me as they have no qualms about breaking the recommended 6 feet barrier while donning a mask.  One of my criticisms of masking up is my suspicion that folks would feel more protected than they are and would reduce their social distancing range from 6 feet to 6 inches.

And, does the public truly understand that the mask is to protect others?  And, it may also be possible that the mask wearer may also enjoy some personal protection.

Of course, the messaging on masking has been atrocious.  On February 29th the Surgeon General implored us in ALL CAPS on a tweet to STOP BUYING MASKS!  His advice has since 'evolved' and is now in line with the consensus of all responsible public health leaders to mask up.

And yet, we have a segment of folks who regard the recommendation to wear a mask to be akin to state tyranny.

Public Health Measure or Tyranny of the State?

Here’s why I think that masking up makes sense.

• Health authorities are advising us to mask up and we should heed their advice.
• In the event that I am unknowingly infected with the novel coronavirus, a mask will reduce risk to those near me.
• Perhaps, my mask will also protect me.
• By wearing a mask, we may keep our hands away direct contact to our faces, which is an effective method, acccording to experts, of transfering the virus to our breathing passages.  I’m sure someone has done the experiment on how often we touch our faces over the course of a day. I’ll bet the answer would shock us.  Readers are encouraged to investigate this existential question and to report their findings in the Comment section. 
• Masks are cheap.
• Wearing a mask fosters a sense of community and connects us in our common cause to get the other side.
• Wearing a mask is essentially all benefit and no risk, although anti-maskers will surely have an anecdote or two demonstrating some calamitous outcome resulting from a mask.
• Masks can be personalized and are a new form of bumper stickers that offer a great way to message the world.

While I am not a medical researcher, I surmise that the mask safer and more effective than swallowing bleach but readers should note that a formal study on this has not been done so it’s still an open question.

The mask makes me feel as if I’m part of the national effort to stare this virus down.  It’s a team building effort, a uniform, that communicates that we are all in this together.  It reminds me of when millions of us were attaching small American flags to our cars after 9/11. When I came across a stranger on the street who is masked like me, I feel a connection beyond what we would have had months ago.  It feels good.

Are you on the team?