In Defense of Masks
S cott Simon’s essay for National Public Radio (NPR), titled “Let Us Now Praise Masks,” gives praise to the small face coverings that millions of people around the globe adopted during the COVID-19 pandemic just as guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that Americans may safely go without them. Simon wants us to fondly remember the mask just as America began to give a relieved sigh and remove them, perhaps for good, as the “post-pandemic” phase appeared to be closer than ever. The essay was written in May of 2021, a time when vaccines were rolling out in full force, and Americans began to imagine the end of the pandemic in sight for the first time. Of course this was not to be, as an uptick in COVID-19 cases followed within days, leading to the CDC issuing revised caution and continued recommendation for masking nearly everywhere in America. Simon’s piece is a call to remember masks fondly as they served as fashion statements, protected countless lives before a vaccine had been developed, and that we should keep them close as they may still serve a life-saving purpose.
As mask wearing became commonplace and even required in some spaces, many people accumulated dozens of custom, personalized masks much like t-shirts and bumper stickers. In his piece, Simon gives his own example, saying “We have masks with the flag of France and the city seal of Chicago, masks from local politicians, and, of course, public radio stations” (Simon 1). I personally own multiple masks which feature the logos of my favorite video games, podcasts, and movies. This form of self-expression via mask also meant that those opposed to masks could do so while making statements against them. That is to say nothing of the numerous incidents of the so-called “anti-mask” crowd in America, which have lead to confrontations which turned deadly in at least eleven separate incidents as of June 15th (McEnvoy 2).
Almost as soon as the pandemic began, masks began appearing in public, as so little information was available as to how the virus was spreading. Face masks were commonly used in urban Asian cities during flu seasons and other pandemics, and this quickly became an accepted form of protection while in public across the world. Typically, the blue surgical style masks often seen adorned by hospital staff were used as they were widely available in stores. As the idea of mask mandates began to materialize, so too did the notion that medical supplies must be rationed for the healthcare community to save as many lives as possible. This meant that the most protective of masks, such as the KN95 and other more protective masks (Hui 3), were to be reserved strictly for medical personnel, while the general public adopted cloth style masks and more easily manufactured masks that still provided some form of protection for day-to-day activities (Wang 4). Simon notes that “Hospital and health care workers, and those who work to feed and care for America, have put on masks every day to keep this country going, as safely as they could… “ (Simon 1).
As more doses of vaccines are administered and reported cases of COVID-19 hit record lows with each passing day, more and more people are adopting to leave masks behind while working, shopping, and gathering with people outside their home, but we may be better off keeping them nearby whenever the need arises. Early in his piece, Simon points out that “Masks should still be worn while traveling, in hospitals and doctors’ offices, and in crowds. And … those who are not fully vaccinated” (Simon, 1). While the pandemic’s end may be in sight, Simon ends with what is on most of our minds as mask wearing is scientifically proven to help prevent the spread of viruses, saying “I have gone from feeling that I can’t wait to toss them out to thinking that I want to keep a few handy” (Simon 1).
To conclude, Simon’s thoughts on masks for NPR is a note to us all to think fondly of masks as they allowed us to express ourselves during the pandemic, saved untold numbers of lives before a vaccine was made, and that we may need to wear them again as risks of virus transmittal change. While some vocal contingents of people continue to rail against mask mandates and usage, study after study have shown their effectiveness (Kwong 5). Masks became a creative endeavor and a piece of merchandise for many, allowing self-expression and profits in a time of great unease. We may never know the number of lives that were saved by wearing masks overall, but some estimates made last year put this number as high as 130,000 Americans alone (Slotkin 6). With masks having become a common, everyday object for most, we must remember to keep them close for when the time arises.
Works Cited
Simon, Scott. “Opinion: Let Us Now Praise Masks.” National Public Radio, The Coronavirus Crisis, 15 May, 2021. https://www.npr.org/2021/05/15/997011689/opinion-let-us-now-praise-masks
McEnvoy, Jemima. “Killing of Georgia Cashier Is Latest In A String of Fatal Shootings Over Mask-Wearing.” Forbes, Breaking. 15 June, 2021. https://www.forbes.com/sites/jemimamcevoy/2021/06/15/killing-of-georgia-cashier-is-latest-in-a-string-of-fatal-shootings-over-mask-wearing-here-are-the-rest/?sh=733fccc2764e
Hui, David, et al. “Exhaled Air Dispersion during Coughing with and without Wearing a Surgical or N95 Mask” National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institute of Health. 5 December, 2012. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3516468/
Wang, Yuxin, et al. “How effective is a mask in preventing COVID‐19 infection?” National Center for Biotechnology Information, National Institute of Health. 5 January, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7883189/
Kwong, Laura. “Evidence Shows That, Yes, Masks Prevent COVID-19 — And Surgical Masks Are The Way To Go.” The Conversation. 22 September, 2021. https://theconversation.com/evidence-shows-that-yes-masks-prevent-covid-19-and-surgical-masks-are-the-way-to-go-167963
Slotkin, Jason. “Universal Mask Wearing Could Save Some 130,000 Lives In The U.S., Study Suggests” National Public Radio. Coronavirus Updates. 24 October, 2020. https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/10/24/927472457/universal-mask-wearing-could-save-some-130-000-u-s-lives-study-suggests
