Mask Hysteria: The Compliant Vs. The Defiant
October 27, 2020
Commentary:
To mask or not to mask? That is the question so many Americans want to know the answer to. Why is the use of face masks by the general public for limiting the spread of COVID-19 so controversial, yet highly recommended?
As states reopen from quarantine, many are requiring people to wear face coverings in most public spaces. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommend cloth masks for the general public.
Half of all U.S. currently has statewide mask mandates in place. However, in Georgia, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed an executive order banning cities from enforcing mask mandates.
In response, Savannah’s democratic mayor, Van Johnson, tweeted, “It is officially official. Governor Kemp does not give a damn about us.”
According to the CDC, an increasing amount of evidence proves cloth face coverings help prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others.
Despite CDC’s recommendation, some people say they’re exempt from mandates requiring facial coverings in public. Because of their medical condition, it is not safe for them to wear a mask. Thanks to privacy laws like HIPAA, the “anti-maskers” say they’re not required to disclose their secret medical condition.
The mask debate has turned into a significant political issue where most democrats are for masks and republicans generally are against them. Anti-maskers with pre-existing conditions like asthma have deemed wearing a mask dangerous for their breathing even though masks are still recommended.
According to the CDC, people with moderate to severe asthma may be at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. The coronavirus may affect the, throat, lungs, cause an asthma attack and possibly lead to pneumonia and acute respiratory disease.
Others claim that the Americans With Disabilities Act protects them from disclosing their private “medical condition.” Could this just be a way to avoid minor inconvenience? Perhaps.
Masks can come with uncomfortable side effects, but are still necessary
Wearing a mask can be annoying, uncomfortable and the experience is unbearable for some. Many fail to properly cover their face, only covering their mouth or by cutting holes in their masks to better breathe or drink. This defeats the mask’s purpose to prevent airborne spread of the virus.
There have been reports of medical professionals suffering severe skin damage after wearing masks for long periods. Wearing a mask for an excess amount of time causes sweat and friction to damage the skin. This creates an opportunity for infection.
If you have a condition that makes mask-wearing difficult, there are ways to deal
The solution isn’t doing away with masks altogether but to wear one that is better suited for the individual.
For example, for people with asthma or COPD (Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), the CDC recommends staying home as much as possible and picking times when it’s least hot and humid to go out. They also advise choosing face-coverings that are comfortable, like a cloth mask made with moisture-wicking and breathable fabric.
Other reasons people refuse to wear masks include racial profiling to the political stance that the government should not dictate what citizens choose to wear. I spoke to a retired Paulding County School District (PCSD) educator, Teresa Britton, about the need for masks and mandates in our community. She currently works at an elementary school in Paulding County.
“I just don’t think they protect you that much,” said retired PCSD educator Britton. “I think it’s a really big scare tactic used to scare people. I don’t have to go into the store that demands it. As far as them demanding you wear it at all times, no. That’s completely infringing on your personal rights and your beliefs.”
Private businesses like Target, Walmart and CVS have policies in place stating that you must be six feet apart and masks are required to be in the store. It is also legal for businesses to enforce those policies and ask a person to leave if they refuse to abide by these set rules.
Wearing a mask is about protecting others, not only yourself. Anti-maskers are not only putting themselves in danger, but also people like essential workers who have to be in public during the pandemic. Their non-belief in science and healthcare professionals is both alarming and irresponsible.
Wearing a mask should be mandatory everywhere as well as social distancing to ensure we get rid of this virus as quickly as possible. It shows good citizenship by making a commitment to keeping fellow Americans safe. Wear a mask!
Bryce • Sep 5, 2022 at 1:09 pm
As a disabled person, anyone that assumes people are faking thier disability are ableists, that is the main source of discrimination against us. I rather have 1% of fakers, then disabled people being constantly harassed by Karens based on mask hysteria and pseudoscience that doesn’t actually follow the CDC guidelines. Karens are falsely claiming they follow CDC guidelines, the guidelines have medical exemptions.
Creole Gumbo • Jun 26, 2021 at 12:17 pm
“Wearing a mask is about protecting others.”
This is only true if the person wearing the mask has a respiratory transmittable disease. If that person is healthy and is not coughing or sneezing then they pose no risk to others.
Mac • Feb 14, 2021 at 11:32 am
This article merely confirms to any reasonable person that this entire epidemic is a poltical situation, not scientific or medical. Democrats willingly wear the mask, and Republicans don’t want to, and it isn’t because Democrats, as they often like to remind us, are the “smart people” who “believe in science”. Science is not a religion. It’s not something that is believed in. Science always should involve skepticism, repeated testing, and questioning of methods and data. Science should not have been politicized the way it has, and subsequently used to subjugate the populace. However, because of the 25 years-long carping about “climate change”, science has become ruined to the point of never being able to be redeemed.
The fact is, cotton Walmart masks that 99% of people are wearing these days do very little, if anything, to stop the spread of viruses. Face masks are meant to reduce bacterial transmission, not viral transmission. Every virus researcher in the world wears an environment suit when they’re doing research with dangerous viruses. The only way to prevent viral transmission is by breathing your own atmosphere inside a suit. This situation is about something else. It has nothing to do with a virus that, according to the CDC’s own recently released figures, has a mortality rate of about 0.5%. That rate is similar to what we’d see with a very bad seasonal flu.
William • Oct 29, 2020 at 5:55 am
If you think mask wearing and social distancing will get rid of the virus, you are high. It is now an endemic disease and here to stay. The Coronavirus isn’t going anywhere.
Stop the hysteria.