Wear a Mask - Save Lives!
By Faiza Zia Khan
Newport Beach, CA
We are yet again solemnly witnessing another uprising in the cases of COVID-19. It is a rather unfortunate situation as the general public did not take heed to the severity of the situation. As soon as the states started reopening, throngs of people became extremely careless in their public demeanor, not following the required safety precautions reinforced by the states seriously. Now everyone has to prepare to start facing the repercussions as a fallout from the vicarious behavior when the flu season hits.
Californians are lucky to enjoy sunny tropical weather all year round. But as freezing temperatures descend upon the east coast outdoor gatherings are becoming more and more difficult. No matter how much our friends enjoy our company it is a hard call to join everyone on a snowy, blizzardy, blustery, windy backyard picnic, or BBQ with freezing temperatures. For a colder climate location, it makes sense to move the social activities indoors, but at what cost? The outdoor fresh air dispels infectious inhalations due to ventilation and open air. Indoor gatherings even with masks on traps air inside and with poor circulation can lead to a rise in infections by breathing the same air.
The term “pandemic-precautionist” has been coined by social media enthusiasts for those common folk who are abiding by every single rule that has been implemented since the pandemic erupted. One feels that they have done their very best by taking all the precautions they possibly can.
They do not leave their accommodations until it is extremely necessary such as a trip to the doctor, or the pharmacy. Even now when everyone is out and about, they are still getting their groceries delivered to the door-step. They leave their shoes outside - outside! They put their clothes in the laundry as soon as they come back inside the house and take a hot shower before changing into their inside clothes. They wipe down every surface they might have touched.
When they come back from their city-directive approved walk around the neighborhood, they disinfect their car, door-handles, keys, wallet, sun-glasses, or any other object that may have gone outside of their safe haven. They do not invite anyone inside their home. This includes family as the visitation is restricted to backyards only, and that too socially distanced and with masks on at all times.
But what if while they are on their brief walk outside that an unmasked person jogs past, all sweaty and fails to keep the six-feet social distance in that instant that he jogs past them? What if that is the one person who is a carrier and is expelling virus particles as he goes past them. They dodge themselves as far as they can and hold their breath even though they have a mask in an attempt to avoid the transmission. Experts suggest chances of getting infected this way are very small. Transmission is unlikely to happen within seconds especially when everyone is outdoors. However, precautions should be taken if someone is sneezing in front of people, they should move away a safe distance so others do not inhale the air.
Are masks the absolute preventative measure to stay safe from the virus? Probably not. Yet, they do make a significant difference in keeping people secure from inhaling a lot of unnecessary impurities, if not all. There have been a lot of mixed sentiments towards the implementation of masks as a mandatory requirement in the public sphere. People have expressed intense dislike towards this measure and some have hailed it as the best movement that will save humanity from this pandemic for centuries to come.
The state of California has mandated masks everywhere in public spaces. No exceptions! Restaurants, grocery stores, and malls display large signs stating, “No masks, no service” boldly and proudly. Patrons are turned away if they are not wearing the mandatory masks. Simply wearing masks is not enough. One should be aware of how to dispose of used masks. It is an important safety precaution to ensure the safe disposal of used masks and not just leave it laying around the house on countertops or high traffic areas. Just like a used syringe a previously used mask is contagious for transmission of diseases, and can cause serious complications. It is very important that once you are done with your mask, cut off the straps and dispose of it in a way that no one else can reuse it. If it is a washable one, then immediately put in the wash or away from where others in the house can accidentally touch it.
The most recent mask saga emerged on Twitter when a tweet from the White House coronavirus adviser Dr Scott Atlas trended in twitter-verse claiming that masks do not work to stop the spread of COVID-19. Here is how it all went down on Twitter and this is quoted directly from the print media that made rounds, leaving people aghast: "Masks work? NO," Atlas had tweeted Saturday, followed by misrepresentations of the science behind the effectiveness of masks in battling the coronavirus pandemic. Atlas also shared a link to an article in The American Institute for Economic Research that argues against the effectiveness of masks. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends people wear masks in public settings around people who don't live in their household, especially when it is not possible to maintain social distancing. "Masks help stop the spread of COVID-19 to others," the CDC states on its website. However, in a bold move Twitter removed Atlas's original tweet by Sunday morning, leaving behind a message that says: "This Tweet violated the Twitter Rules. A Twitter spokesperson confirmed to Newsweek that Atlas's tweet was in violation of the platform's COVID-19 misleading information policy.”
If we look on a global level, Asia has been ahead of the game for years by wearing masks as a preventative measure against pollution, respiratory illnesses, and general breathing problems. In Japan people have been wearing masks as a standard practice during the cold and flu season to avoid the unnecessary spread of germs to others and from inhaling others contaminated air. Hence Japan’s COVID-19 infection rate has always stayed low since the influx of the pandemic.
Hopefully we learn a lesson or two from our international neighbors and take wearing of masks as seriously as it should be taken whether indoors or outdoors!
(Faiza Zia Khan holds a Master’s in Journalism degree from the University of British Columbia, Canada. She has collaborated with news media outlets, including Global National, and actively volunteers for several community investment projects for the Red Cross, United Way and the Breast Cancer Foundation)
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