With COVID and flu cases rising, how do we entice people to mask up? I have an idea
As we crawl out of the pandemic, I’ve discovered that I have a nice collection of freshly laundered cloth masks. They are a reminder — as if we needed it — that COVID-19 has changed our lives in ways we are still figuring out.
Some of my masks were made by thoughtful seamstresses in early 2020, when these accessories were hard to come by and the best of them were reserved for front-line workers. My first was fashioned from tie-dye fabric and looks very 1960s. It elicited many compliments back in the day, but, in truth, it didn’t do much to protect me. Single-ply, the cloth gapped right below the eyes, which made it possible for the virus to slip through. Nevertheless, it’s a favorite because it makes a statement.
Two others cost me a pretty penny. They were token thank-yous mailed to me after donations. I keep the one from my alma mater in the glove compartment of my car for emergencies but can’t remember the last time I used it.
I’ve been thinking about the masks, because COVID-19 cases have been rising at a faster rate than the cost of eggs in the supermarket. In one midDecember weekend alone, four of my buddies tested positive. And earlier this month, a daughter-in-law and her 3-month-old, my beloved grandson with the rosebud mouth and the enviably long lashes, reported a meet-and-greet with the pesky virus. (You can imagine the worry and heartache when I found out, but I’m relieved to report the baby had a slight fever for a day and managed quite nicely. So did his vaccinated mother. Thank God.)
But it’s not just COVID-19 that’s wreaking havoc with winter plans. The flu started early and attacked ferociously, worrying healthcare experts that saw it go on a sort of hiatus back when we isolated and masked. In fact, the director of the U.S. Centers for Diseases and Prevention Control recently warned that flu cases “continue to be the highest we have seen at this time of year in a decade, demonstrating the significantly earlier flu season we are experiencing.”
Then there’s respiratory syncytial virus, which can be dangerous for children under 6 months and adults over 65. Cases of RSV have flooded pediatric wards around the country, once again threatening an overworked and exhausted healthcare system. Strung together like multiple voices in a chorus, these three illnesses have been labeled a tripledemic.
As a result, the CDC and other health experts have suggested people consider masking indoors in New York City, Los Angeles and other communities where COVID-19 cases are high and climbing. Some institutions are taking matters into their own hands. Philadelphia public schools, for example, will require students and staff to wear masks for two weeks after the holiday break.
Which brings me back to my mask collection and the very real possibility that they might get some use this season. Will we see the return of mask mandates?
I doubt it. Mask fatigue has set in and, right or wrong, people seem to be over COVID-19 — though it’s quite apparent COVID-19 is not done with us. That said, we know masks work in preventing infections, and it’s sad that some chose to weaponize their wearing for political gain. Now the issue is how to convince people to voluntarily wear them in crowded places.
So, here’s my idea. We need social media influencers to flaunt stylish masks. We need to make masks the must-have accessory of the season. Let’s recruit Kim Kardashian and Taylor Swift. Let’s ask Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson to post a masked selfie on Instagram. And maybe Billie Eilish can pen a song about the joys and heartaches of mask-love.
Far-fetched? Hardly. Folks are willing to try the most ridiculous TikTok challenges. They also rush out to purchase whatever style a starlet may be wearing on the red carpet. Surely we can make masks just as chic and coveted.
Ana Veciana-Suarez writes about family and social issues. Email her at avecianasuarez@gmail.com or visit her website anavecianasuarez.com. Follow @AnaVeciana.