In recent times, the issues of masking up to help prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in the setting of a global pandemic has been a topic of considerable discussion and argumentation. While we in North America were slow to adopt masks, along with mainstay social distancing, to help quell the virus, as evidence accumulated, it has become clear that masks are essential as a tool to help stop illness and save lives. The droplet blocking properties of masks are unequivocal and since airborne transmission through large and small droplets is the main vehicle for community-based transmission of the virus, no one should be hesitating to wear a mask when asked or required.
There are goofy people – the so-called anti-maskers, the “freedom brigade”, the uninformed, the “hoax” promoters, and desperately naive politicians in some countries – who continue to fight against rules and guidelines that require or strongly recommend masks.
It is a strange world wherein masks are appropriate for robbing banks, hosting masquerade balls and covering faces for traditional religious reasons, yet people will fight over, die over, yell about wearing masks that save their own lives and those lives of others unpredictably vulnerable to severe and often fatal infections.
Masks come in different flavours for anti-virus transmission……home-made, commercial, clothe, plastic, disposable, reusable, full-face, half face, clear, coloured, graphically designed, and more. People have become creative in producing cheap masks for front-line workers in health, community protection, essential stores and services, and elsewhere. The mask makers for cheap or for free should be honoured. Those gouging and selling for too much money should be banned at a time like this.
May we reach a point where masks are no longer necessary, when truly useful medicines are made or validated, truly effective and safe vaccines are globally distributed at affordable prices, when we understand the multi-organ mechanisms of this novel infectious agent.
This small facet of the COVID19 story shall be a lesson as we look toward controlling this pandemic and properly preparing for the next one, which undoubtedly will arise.
👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼💥. Am an avid mask user and shudder running into those who don’t. I’m one of those vulnerable folks as are others in the family. Wise words!!
Here here! Always have a cache of masks in tow, wearing them in most all public settings! It’s plain old respectful good practice! 😷