It’s so little to ask… just wear a mask
AMERICAN Richard Rose, a 37-year-old from Ohio, should be the most famous person you’ve never heard of.
A prolific social media user, on April 28 he posted a defiant message: “Let me make this clear. I’m not buying a f***ing mask. I’ve made it this far by not buying into that damn hype.”
Richard was then very much business as usual, checking in on Facebook at bars and restaurants.
At the beginning of July, the former soldier gave an update: “I’ve been very sick the past few days. Symptoms of Covid-19. This morning I finally got swabbed.
“I should know soon what the results are. I just want to feel good again!”
Then came: “Well.
I’m officially under quarantine for the next
14 days. I just tested positive for COVID-19. Sucks because I had just started a new job.” The next day he reported to his followers: “This covid s**t sucks! I’m so out of breath just sitting here.”
The next post on his social media is his obituary. Richard Rose died on July 3. Maybe the mask is a red herring in this sad story. But a German study revealed the daily growth rate of coronavirus infections fell by 40% after mask use was made compulsory.
In Japan, where everyone wears a mask, there have been fewer than 1,000 coronavirus deaths – this, despite having twice as many inhabitants as the UK, more elderly than any other country, and never being in full lockdown.
With their trademark clear, decisive leadership, our government announced there was no evidence masks reduced the spread of the virus in April, ignored the World Health Organisation’s advice that masks should be worn in June, sent Michael Gove on The Andrew Marr Show to say masks shouldn’t be mandatory on Sunday, before announcing that masks would be mandatory on Tuesday. This will save lives, and is therefore extremely urgent, so obviously it will come into immediate effect 10 days later.
The British Medical Association said the move was “long overdue”, and called for the regulation to be extended to all settings where social distancing is not possible.
And yet, in the face of all this evidence, and science, and expert testimony, and putting on a mask taking two seconds, some people aren’t happy.
Physical fights are breaking out. A bus driver in France was killed by passengers who refused to cover their faces. There are rants about human rights, and how “no-one’s telling me what to do” as though this is happening to spoil fun, or as part of a mad power trip, rather than it being for the greater good in a matter of absolutely literally life and death.
What complicates the mask issue is you don’t wear one to protect yourself, but to protect others.
Covid-19 is spread through droplets, from breathing, speaking, coughing or sneezing, and masks – a study at University of Edinburgh
found – can limit how far exhaled breath travels by as much as 90%. Even if you don’t think you have the virus, you could be a silent carrier, feeling totally fine, but passing it on wherever you go.
Until the mask mandate comes into effect, this is ultimately a test of decency. A visual indicator of selfishness.
It’s so little to ask. And even if you somehow don’t believe what Richard Rose called the “hype”, wouldn’t you – and your conscience – rather be safe than sorry?
Wearing a mask is the ultimate Pay It Forward – and the kicker is, it will only work if we all do it.
The vaccine seems far away, the track and trace app system still isn’t in place – masks, along with handwashing, are currently our best hope of controlling the virus.
We have to save each other to save ourselves.
There’s a saying that not all superheroes wear capes. Turns out they do wear masks though.
Wouldn’t you – and your conscience – rather be safe than sorry