Is It Really That Hard to Wear a Mask?
Right now, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, is it that hard to wear a piece of fabric over your face while you’re in public for the sake of public safety?
It shouldn’t be.
Granted, there are people who would have difficulty wearing a mask. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), children under two years old, anyone who is currently having trouble breathing, and anyone who is unconscious, incapacitated, or is physically unable to remove their face mask on their own should not be wearing a face mask. This makes sense, and most people do not fit into these categories.
When you wear a mask, it’s primarily to protect others around you. You don’t wear a mask for yourself; you wear it for other people. By wearing a mask, you’re lowering their risk for getting infected. Your risk for getting infected becomes lower if everyone around you wears a mask. That’s why it’s important for everyone to wear a mask in public, that way everyone is protected as much as possible.
Wearing a mask is a symbol of solidarity. When people seeing you wearing one, it tells them, “I care enough about your health to wear this, and I hope you do too.” It’s also a symbol of public health. It shows that we are doing what we can to protect the people in our community, even if they are outside our circle of friends and family. When I wear a mask, it’s my way of telling people, “We’re in this together because your health affects my health.”
It’s not really that hard to wear a mask. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals wear them for prolonged hours at work. People who work in construction where they are exposed to fumes, chemicals, and substances that can irritate your lungs also wear them. If they can do it, so can you. I’ve only had to wear my mask for about 1–2 hours at a time, but I am prepared to wear them for 8–9 hours a day if I need to.
Roderick Conwi is the Executive Editor at Nourishment Notes. He is also the author of The Procrastinator’s Quick Guide To Getting It Done.
