The Mask
Surgical masks today have been thrown into the middle of an unexplained and unnecessary controversy. It has become a material symbol of the division created by this controversy.
Recently, I was discussing the issue with a dear friend who works in the hospitality industry. On a daily basis she is exposed to travelers from all over the country. She exclaimed that she was unwilling to wear a mask because, “It is a threat to my freedom! But I am willing to take risk; the same risk I take daily when I get into my truck and drive.” She has come to terms with the risk, even if it means her life. She added, “My family is also at peace with my position on this.”
Thinking about it, I realized that we take a risk each time we enter our cars. But we would not do so without the protections of brakes, windshields, seat belts, and the like. My friend was choosing to drive without a windshield, so to speak. How did we get here?
I believe it began with a disinformation campaign launched by CDC, and propagated by media outlets, culminating with the Administration’s eagerness to open the economy on the basis that the virus was under control. That the wearing masks will undercut such a message.
The initial information coming from the COVID task force was, the mask was not recommended for the general citizens… unless you are coughing. In which case it protects others from you but it doesn’t protect you from others.
I’d like to point out some simple facts. I went to Medical school some 30 years ago. The surgical mask has been around since the 1960’s, clearly predating COVID-19. How was the mask utilized before COVD-19?
When a patient has a certain condition, such as Influenza A&B, Meningitis, Herpes Zoster, we do not enter the room barefaced. Why? Because a distinction is made between the person who is sick and the one who needs to be protected from their illness. So, I always wear a mask to protect me from the sick patient.
At the early stage of the pandemic how could the CDC be so sure of their recommendation for the general public to not wear masks when we saw in China, Taiwan, Japan, and other countries, close to where all this started, on television, everyone out in public was wearing masks?
To further highlight the usage of the surgical masks pre-COVID-19, we in healthcare wear masks, in other instances, so that a chemotherapy patient with a weakened immune system, is protected from us. Clearly then, the surgical masks protect me from you and you from me!
Why then did the authorities sell us such a message as this and we healthcare professionals parroted along with them? The answer is very simple, America was caught off guard by this pandemic. We did not have enough masks and telling the truth about this would have caused the provision of masks to suffer the same fate of the toilet paper debacle, causing people to rush and hoard so that there would be none for healthcare, frontline workers. Those in authority did not honestly communicate with the American people, however many saw through this deliberate misinformation campaign. Dishonesty always carries with it a negative outcome, no matter how noble the motives or intentions.
Once supplies were catching up the narrative changed, but without any admissions. It was made to look as if new data was behind the change of recommending mask usage. By this time the President was eager to see the country open up and to do so it was necessary to project control and calm. The Mask is a visible contradictory symbol to his message so he refused to wear it.
It is important to note that, to a certain segment of our country the president is the best commander in chief since George Washington, and his words, gospel truth. Consequently, they do and defend what he says and does. Therefore, to wear the mask, for them, is to act in opposition to the president.
While I am talking exclusively about the surgical mask, the sudden shift in recommendation to wear a cloth mask has baffled me. I can only say, this should have come much earlier, and that everyone should be using masks when outside their homes until the pandemic is declared over.
The Pandemic is a Biological and Medical crisis. Opinion on the subject should be deferred to healthcare professionals. When politicians practice medicine they do so without medical training or a license.
In an illness that could mean life or death,Why would you gamble your life on the basis of an armature opinion, from individuals who does not have the know how of and will not be able to treat you if you were ill at the verge of death? Will doing so not be like a billionaire business person seeking financial advise from a poor individual who never studied economics nor ran a business?
Should such not come from experts and professionals? In this case, the same that will treat you if you get sick?
At the end of the day, the real tragedy is that when politicians meddle in the medical practice, it culminated into the death of the Mask for a huge segment of our nation.Leaving millions to brace the Pandemic barefaced and worse up and about.
With increased barefaced out there, I urge you to protect yourself and others by wearing a mask each time. Remember even if you contract the virus and don’t die from it, you very well may spread it; and those who catch it from you very well may die as a result. Some of these may be dear friends and loved ones. Please wear masks and save a life. That life could be your own.
