We Cannot Keep Masking Post-Pandemic
Peace of mind can never be achieved if masks outside of a pandemic are normalized.
This is a reader contribution from M.D.
Masking in indoor public places has been a reasonable precaution, among many, during the pandemic during times when community spread is high. In particular, frontline health care workers need appropriately fitted PPE to safely treat COVID patients. But I am getting increasingly worried about suggestions in the media and social media that we must, or at least ought to, continue to wear masks after the pandemic phase is over, be it on transit, during winter, or in crowds. I won’t do it.
Personally, the pandemic has been the greatest mental health challenge of my life. And I need, at some point, relief, ease and peace of mind. I need to be able to step into a subway car, a restaurant or a stadium without thinking about respiratory illness. I don’t agree that peace of mind can be achieved if masks outside of a pandemic are normalized.
I really don’t think post-pandemic masking supporters have thought through the psychosocial impact of dedicating normal life to dodging aerosols, or of viewing fellow human beings as dangerous or disgusting. And even if social cohesion isn’t shredded by viewing each other as viral vectors, masking to avoid colds and flus is simply doomed to fail. Even if one masks on sidewalks and buses, can anyone really avoid prolonged close contact with their loved ones, from whom we contract most of our illnesses?
I agree that ventilation can be improved in our buildings, to the extent that it promotes overall health. But other “new normal” proposals such as seasonal or situational masking have downsides that outweigh any benefits. I know some have talked about how much they enjoy not having contracted colds or flus this past winter, but masks alone are not likely to provide similar immunity in a future where COVID is competing less aggressively in the populace with other viruses, and without the unquestionably unsustainable non-pharmaceutical interventions like distancing, lockdowns and travel bans.
I’d also note that while the mass media has disproportionately fixated on “vaccine breakthrough infections,” which affect a negligible percentage of vaccinated people and are almost never severe, they have been oddly disinterested in “mask breakthrough infections.” One would think these would be vastly more common and more serious, given serious ICU waves during periods of very high mask compliance. But we have learned very little about when, how, why and through what types of mask people nevertheless contract serious cases of COVID. It’s part and parcel of the sense of received wisdom that “new normal” measures can’t be questioned, and that infections must be the fault of the “misbehaving” public. We cannot let this counterproductive moralization of infectious disease spread to other illnesses beyond COVID (and, in prior years, HIV).
Rather than masking in the future, let’s take care of vulnerable people by staying home when we are sick. Let’s trust the vaccines and take a badly needed permanent break from obsessing over viral particles. And let’s all be honest that the old normal with the occasional cold and flu is preferable to dystopia.
If you wanted to wear a mask for precaution so be it but should never have been mandated because of the health risks and now we see no due diligence on safety standards for masks. There was no proper signs on exemptions which were necessary. Thus it lead to virtue signalling . Totally wrong. Covid spread silently through the world for many months. No masks no fear scare tactics. Just we always have done. Problems arise through fear. Big problems and that affects health.
By the mask mandate coming into law it brought out a police state that involved your personal health. Exemptions were ignored or people shamed into compliance.
Notice when defective masks were sent they tried to latch on to that to blames LTC deaths on. Or they flipped flopped on masks. But the mask boxes showed the truth right on the box. Tam Fauci all stated the science. More risk then benefits .
The Ontario nurses won the right to no mask no flu shot. They used science and studies. The science didn't change as the mask boxes showed. But then the cash register started to click and click. Every mask you could imagine showed up. Especially think about mandating in summer. I had a hard time watching the elderly standing outside in the hot sun for a half hour or longer wearing masks. Sickening. Or those with exemptions wearing out of fear. So too bad mask mandates wrong. No maneuvering from precaution.
If you have a virus it can escape from your eyes. Watering eyes from allergies and mask wearing too. Going to cover up your eyes too. Hope you can see to walk.
Stupidity on display. Vaccines are a choice but fear has created a mess for that. Only 40 percent take the flu vaccine and we leave it at that for personal choice. Hasn't become such a hot debate with Charter violations being called for. There are lots of adverse reactions that can't be ignored. Rushed is rushed.
Well, I think we are living in a very dangerous ideology, because every year there is a flu virus. And typically your doctor will advise you to take the flu shot, but it does not help ALL FLU's so why is this different?. And it is beneficial for our immune system so it can help to attack viruses, and contributes to overall health. Now this sounds contradictory, but if we just avoid the flu, then I can attribute this to a sterile society that one flu virus can devastate your immune system and kill you. There is a reason why viruses exist it is to exercise and alert your own bodies perfect system in helping you fight this invasion. I can attribute this as a red flag that if we avoid flu's we will be at risk just as the first people to arrive in Canada and bring even greater disease, and remember we were advised to NOT give antibiotics so that our immune system learns. So what does mask prove? it is not your savior, it will harm you further. This is beyond reason that people think this is a 'safety blanket'...you might do yourself the favor of going out and having your immune system recognize and armor you! not stay into this false agenda of masks! so dangerous!