The Politics of Wearing a Mask During a Global Pandemic

Masks have been a hot topic of contention and controversy during the global pandemic. Since the coronavirus crisis first popped onto the media’s radar, towards the latter end of 2019, headlines have been accompanied by images of citizens wearing their protective masks. Some images even parallel a dystopian future with beachgoers wearing their bikinis and masks during summer.

A few years ago, if someone had said we would be leaving the house, saying “darn it, I forgot my mask”, we would have laughed it off as a bad superhero joke. However, in many countries this is now a reality, as masks have become mandatory. For some, wearing a mask is considered to be a political statement. Those who choose to wear a mask are perceived to stand in solidarity against the virus, and those who don’t often attribute it to an attack on their personal freedoms.

If the pandemic has achieved anything, it is a greater sense of community. We have developed a significant appreciation for the simpler things in life. We have also placed greater importance on aspects such as wellbeing and national health services.

Rather than solely focusing on the individual, the pandemic has made many of us realize that we must all play our part in keeping safe, so that we can protect the most vulnerable members of society. The virus may not be dangerous for a young adult; however, it could spread via their interaction and affect someone on a more dangerous level.

There are many ways that you can choose to protect yourself from the virus. The most obvious being the use of a mask when you find yourself in public or closed spaces. The N95 respirator mask has been labelled as one of the safest and most efficient masks on the market. However, cloth and surgical masks are also adequate alternatives that can limit the spread of viral particles.

For many countries in East Asia, wearing a mask is more of a cultural norm, especially during flu season or when citizens are sick. This is because it is considered rude to sneeze or cough in public spaces without wearing a mask. Now with the added threat of the global pandemic, not wearing a mask in these countries can land you with a hefty fine or even worse - jailtime.

Many European countries such as the United Kingdom, Italy, and France, have also enforced the use of masks albeit in certain areas. For example, if you go inside a shop or use public transport you are expected to wear a mask. Similarly, some states in the U.S have enforced the use of masks with varying levels of strictness.

The North American population have been one of the most prone to lashing out in regard to the use of masks. When the virus first began to spread in the States, public health officials did not recommend the use of masks unless citizens exhibited symptoms of the virus. The president at the time, Donald Trump, also refused to wear a mask and inherently turned his refusal into a political statement. However, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has since rectified their stance on this issue, when in April research showed that even asymptomatic carriers of the virus had the ability to infect others. Now, the World Health Organization has also agreed that masks are essential when social distancing norms cannot be respected.

Although masks are a great resource to protect yourself from the virus, this is not the only way that you can keep safe. Boosting your overall health by eating well and doing regular exercise has also been recommended by health experts.

Furthermore, you should be mindful of the way that you wash your hands. Using hand sanitizer is effective, however, you should make sure that you are washing your hands in the correct way. This includes lathering soap on your wrists and between your fingers after touching any surfaces or using the toilet.

Thankfully, there has been some positive news recently. With the development of the vaccine and its high levels of effectiveness, there seems to be a light at the end of the tunnel. Although the vaccine will not eradicate the virus completely, it should give health systems around the world a sense of relief.

What is certain is that wearing a mask should not be a political statement or issue. Instead it is an issue of public health and a minor inconvenience that has the potential to save hundreds of lives.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes