To Mask, or not to Mask

I’m on the fence about this whole “wear a mask in public” thing. Yes- I am currently complying with any requirement for a face mask but I’ll be honest- I personally don’t like it. Here’s why.

• For starters, I prefer to be able to see facial expressions. People don’t generally communicate as well over the telephone as they do when in person, and sending everyone into public spaces with their faces covered reduces the ability for people to truly interact well with one another. I’m not saying it can’t be done, I’m simply stating that wearing a mask will reduce our ability to communicate with one another. In an age when communication is so important to all, enforcing a change that reduces our communication seems counterproductive to any benefits.
• There’s not a lot of data to support the idea that widespread use of facial masks with this current virus can reduce the impact of this virus. There is some limited data that supports the blocking of airborne pathogens by adding a filter in front of your nose and mouth- this is true and makes sense. But how effective it is remains to be quantified accurately. Feel a sneeze or cough coming on? Covering up has always been the polite protocol- preferably with your sleeve or a handkerchief (not that those are around much anymore), and can (and should) be done. And if we’re going to practice some “social distancing” (keeping space between each other to reduce contact) shouldn’t that help as well?
• How clean is your mask? There’s an argument here as well- that handling and reusing masks and gloves may actually promote the spread of some viruses. Is your mask custom fitted to your face? Is it uniquely identifiable so as not to get confused with someone else’s mask? (Yuck, that’s a horrible thought)…
• How sustainable is requiring a mask over a period of time? I’m finding instances where masks are “encouraged” but not required, and other locations that are requiring masks to the point of placing door monitors who deny entrance to grocery stores if a mask isn’t present and on a person’s face. Should a mask be required in an open space public area such as a park or beach? Even if social distancing is in practice? How far do we go to ensure compliance equally to all over a period of time? One particular location I visited recently had stated that masks were required but that children 12 and under were exempt- do kids never sneeze or cough?
• Finally- there’s the question of asymptomatic carriers– those individuals who may have a virus in their systems and can transmit it through contact although showing no signs of any illness. How can we know when a person is past their contagious period without more advanced testing and more frequent testing? Would requiring a mask help with this problem? And for how long? Forever? When is enough truly “enough”?

We are living in some really crazy times right now. And every person takes change in a different way. Some can adapt, others cannot. There’s no single solution that will fit every person just right. Our way forward and out of this current climate of fear and illness will require a multilayered solution- one that addresses the magnitude of the current condition on our society, while still recognizing the individuals who collectively make it truly “our society”. No matter what your position on face masks may be, we will all be forever changed by the events of 2020.