“If you have never protested a ‘no shoes no shirt no service’ sign at the gas station, perhaps just put on a mask.”
That’s a great tweet by Gillian Brockell, a U.S. journalist who is seeing up close the organized efforts of some to avoid wearing a face mask.
This despite mounting evidence from health experts that masks are an excellent line of defence, along with washing your hands, not touching your face and maintaining as much physical distance as you can.
Some people are just digging in their heels about not wearing a face mask, as though it’s an affront to their personal freedom and some sort of “lefty” hoax.
And yet as that tweet above shows, there are all sorts of minor rules we follow along with that don’t compromise our personal freedoms.
So maybe stop your complaining and just mask up.
I’m writing here to say that it’s time to make wearing a face mask mandatory. People who are entering any sort of business or indoor public space should have to wear a mask.
It's a logical decision. Even many grocery stores are making it mandatory to wear a mask.
If you have never protested a “no shoes no shirt no service” sign at the gas station, perhaps just put on a mask.
— Gillian Brockell is social distancing (@gbrockell) June 18, 2020
Now, before you say it, I agree that the science isn’t 100% rock-solid on this. But there’s mounting evidence that masks are effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and protecting people.
It’s why the City of Burnaby was so thrilled when developer Concord Pacific donated 100,000 masks to the city. It’s not because they are decorative, but because more and more experts say wearing a mask is good protection.
I’m not the only one thinking this.
The Globe and Mail wrote an entire editorial endorsing this idea.
“Masks are not a panacea,” the newspaper wrote. “Physical distancing, washing your hands and isolating if you have symptoms are the three essentials. But mounting evidence indicates that masks can cut the risk of spreading COVID-19. The Toronto Transit Commission on Wednesday officially made masks mandatory as of early July. That should be a national example.”
If you are going inside a grocery store, for example, wouldn’t you want to do more to protect those who work there? I know I do, which is why I always wear a mask.
I don’t wear it in the car or when I’m out for a walk, unless I see someone is about to get close to me. But when I’m heading inside a public space, I mask up.
This isn’t always easy. Some people can’t wear masks for some respiratory health reasons, so there would have to be exemptions.
And, for example, eating a sit-down meal. For that, I wear the mask until my food arrives and then mask up as soon as I’m finished.
I hated wearing masks at first, but now I’m used to it and it’s becoming second nature.
And really, what are we talking about? A few minutes inside a store. Imagine being a nurse or care home worker and having one of those things on for 10 hours in a day.
It’s the least people can do to protect workers…and yourself.
That’s the part that gets me. I am still stunned at how whiny some people are about putting on a mask. Maybe stop with the conspiracy theories for a few minutes, champ. Just look at all of those "tough guys' in the U.S. who have denied COVID-19 and have since been diagnosed with it.
Don't be that guy.
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
