Oooh... really?
I have a riddle for you this week. How are face masks and condoms alike?
Answer: Most people would rather not use either of them! But…
Masks and condoms both protect the person wearing them, they reduce the chance of passing a disease to the person you are with (even if you don’t know you don’t have one), they are a minor inconvenience and they’re inexpensive. They both have also become more popular because of dangerous diseases—COVID-19 for masks, and HIV/AIDS for condoms. And neither works perfectly…but they’re better than using nothing at all! But some people still don’t want to use them, even though they know they really should!
People all over the world are wearing masks in public now as part of the strategy to slow the spread of the coronavirus and save lives. But some North Americans are refusing to use this minor inconvenience even though there is plenty of evidence now that face coverings of any kind can make a difference. Are people just too uncomfortable? Embarrassed? Don’t believe the experts? I was curious so, of course, like any typical baby boomer, I started reading… and I learned there are many different reasons people will refuse to wear a mask.
Culture
First, wearing a mask isn’t part of our culture here in North America (except among health care workers) and people often feel uncomfortable with change. Other parts of the world, like Asia, had already started using masks in public when previous viruses that didn’t reach here caused deaths. They also used them to protect themselves from high levels of pollution in dense cities. Apparently, wearing a mask when you’re ill there is so imbedded into the culture, it is considered very rude and inconsiderate to cough or sneeze into your hand or sleeve—you are expected to wear a mask if you are sick, even with a cold. So, the culture was already different in Asian countries. However, masks were accepted quickly in Europe and Scandinavia when they were threatened by COVID-19, so that’s only a small part of the explanation.
Vanity
Our face is what we show the world—part of what makes us attractive to others and recognized by friends. Women wear makeup to enhance their looks. Men show their character through grooming, facial hair, and a healthy smile.
One article I read, even suggested some people feel wearing a mask makes them appear weak and overly worried about an invisible threat. Healthy, strong people usually only get a mild case, so wearing a mask must suggest you aren’t healthy and strong, right?
But, because we now know that the virus is easily spread by those with no symptoms, we all need to think about the people we could unknowingly pass the virus along to. How could you not feel guilty if you caused someone else to suffer and possibly die? Young, healthy people wear masks to protect others more than themselves… caring for others isn’t a weakness.
Communication
A large part of communication is visual. The expression on a face tells a lot of what a person is thinking. A smile brightens someone’s day. Some people worry about that loss of communication, and it’s important. But they say the eyes are the window to the soul…perhaps we can learn to read expressions in the eyes better, just like those who are blind become more sensitive to sounds. And, like the blind, we can learn to be more sensitive to the tone of voice that speaker is using.
But another option to improve visual communication and facial recognition, is the face shield. Although not considered quite as effective as a well-made mask, shields still make a difference in reducing dispersion of droplets so use will reduce the spread of the coronavirus. There is also an option for children, who might have difficulty with a mask, with the shield attached to a sun hat. Note that masks are not recommended for children under age 2.
Physical discomfort
Many people find wearing a mask just plain uncomfortable. It can be stuffy and hot, feeling your breath in your own face. The elastics can make your ears sore, the fabric can make your nose itchy…
The key here is to have a mask that fits properly. You want it snug but not so tight it pulls your ears forward. It should have enough room for your nose and be made of a material that is smooth enough not to irritate your face. It needs to fit closely enough that air doesn’t pass around the edges and be “breathable” enough that you can breathe easily through the fabric. And, especially as summer arrives, you want it to be absorbent so it will stay cooler on your face. I hope manufacturers and researchers are working on this! Since it is likely to be over a year until we have a vaccine for everyone, we need good quality reusable masks and information on the best materials to use if making them yourself.
Confusion
Another problem in convincing people to wear masks in North America, is the confusion over whether we really need to wear one in public. Initially, authorities told us masks were not necessary and might even increase our risk but, with research, this has been shown to be incorrect. Recommendations have gradually changed from “don’t wear a mask” to “they might help” to “you should/must wear a mask when you cannot stay more than 2 meters (6 feet) away from others”. The initial recommendations were based on a lack of information (because the virus is so new) and the worry that the public would buy all the available masks, leaving none for front line health care workers who needed them more. Enter, the homemade or store-bought reusable cloth mask…problem solved!
We know that staying at least 1 meter (3 feet) apart lowers the risk of catching the virus and that 2 meters (6 feet) is better, and that a mask isn’t needed if you can maintain that physical distance. But there are lots of places that this is just impossible…like at the Costco! There are just so many aisles and corners, and people going everywhere, that you never know when you’ll end up too close to someone you don’t know. And some services, like the post office, paying for purchases, or getting your hair done, require a small distance between people to complete the service. Wearing a mask in some cases is necessary for the worker and the client to stay safe. Essentially, masks allow more people to go back to work with much lower risk to their health and for the safety of those they serve.
Political
It’s hard to imagine, but the health-related issue of wearing a mask has become a political issue in some areas. Some people tolerate change better than others, and I suspect that the wholesale changes we’ve endured with self-isolation, quarantines, and physical distancing are taking their toll on the mental health of many. Demanding that they also cover their face has just been too much for some, adding to the mental stress that’s already sky-rocketed over the past few months. Refusing to wear a mask when required is a way of rebelling, of demanding a return to a normalcy we can’t safely have right now. Life is hard for so many in 2020. It will be difficult to find a cure for all of what’s happening, but we have to keep moving ahead, one step at a time.
And me? Do I wear a mask?
I’m what you’d call an “early adopter” … I started wearing a mask in mid-March when I arrived home from a winter vacation a month earlier than planned. My husband and I were in Spain as the country was shutting down due to the virus and we were lucky to get a flight home as quickly as we did. We tried to buy masks to protect ourselves on the 3 flights and 4 airports we had to pass through, but there were none left for sale anywhere. I started making masks for myself, friends and family as soon as I arrived home, knowing what was coming.
I also accepted covering part of my face more readily than many would because of my past experiences. As a hospital pharmacist, I prepared sterile medicines and was required to wear a surgical mask (sometimes for hours at a time) to protect the products I was making. We all breathe out little droplets containing bacteria when we talk and exhale and just a single droplet falling on the medicine meant it would no longer be sterile. Later, as a compounding pharmacist, I worked with potent drugs in powder form. I needed to upgrade to an N-95 mask then to filter the air I was breathing, so I wouldn’t inhale powders that escaped into the air. So, I was used to the concepts of protecting myself and others by wearing a mask.
Of course, some people cannot tolerate wearing a mask—for example, those with breathing problems like asthma or emphysema, those with mental health problems, or children under 2 years. But, as with vaccines, if those who can wear a mask do it, those who can’t will be protected. Recent modelling suggests that, if 80% of people wore a cloth mask in public, the spread of the virus could be stopped. Over 90 countries now require masks to be worn in public places and countries that adopted this policy early along with other measures all have had less than 1000 deaths due to COVID-19.
But we all need to realize that most of us only need to wear a mask for short periods of time—only when we are not sure we can stay at least 2 meters away from others. I keep one in my pocket or purse whenever I go out so I can slip it on when needed. Here in New Brunswick, Canada, we are told we must put one on when entering a public place, but we can remove it if we see that we will be able to keep our distance from others once inside.
I have never had to wear mine for more than an hour at a time. It is different for workers, though, and they should have several washable masks, so they can change to a fresh one every few hours. They would also benefit from breaks during the day in a place where it’s safe to remove the mask for a while. But, like health care workers, it’s something you just get used to because it’s necessary.
And what about you?
Have you started wearing a mask when you can’t keep the required physical distance from others? Are there other reasons not to wear a mask that I haven’t discussed? Please send me a comment!
References:
The psychology behind why some people won’t wear masks—CNN https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/06/health/why-people-dont-wear-masks-wellness-trnd/index.html
A Doctor Explains Why 45% of All Americans Refuse to Wear a Protective Mask—Forbes https://www.forbes.com/sites/johnbbrandon/2020/05/06/a-doctor-explains-why-45-of-all-americans-refuse-to-wear-a-protective-mask/#2a188b29213d
Why are people refusing to wear masks amid coronavirus threat?—KSAT.com https://www.ksat.com/news/local/2020/05/27/why-are-people-refusing-to-wear-masks-amid-coronavirus-threat/
Refusing to Wear a Mask Is a Uniquely American Pathology—SLATE https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/05/masks-coronavirus-america.html
Over 100 health leaders to governors: Require masks to help contain the coronavirus—USA Today https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2020/05/14/require-masks-stop-coronavirus-spread-over-100-health-leaders-column/5182076002/
