Lost in all the cries of “freedom” from manbabies about requests to wear masks in Burnaby – especially inside – is a more nuanced discussion about why they should be worn.
The manbabies keep yelling about how the “science isn’t conclusive” and “it’s not mandatory” as though we need everything to be exact and mandated by law when it comes to COVID-19.
Well, the science is pretty solid when it comes to the helpfulness of masks, but, yes, it’s still evolving.
But that just feels like a smokescreen. I think some people just don’t want to be told to do something, even though there are plenty of things we do because it’s societal norms.
Lost in all of this is the fact that while face masks don’t 100% guarantee protection, they are a sign of respect for others, especially those service workers we come into contact with when we shop or eat out, etc.
That’s something Terry wrote to me after my column about making masks mandatory in most indoor situations.
“I wholeheartedly agree with you on the importance of wearing masks in areas where physical distancing is not possible,” Terry wrote (they didn’t want their last name used because they feared backlash from trolls). “I was very disappointed that early on when Covid-19 was declared to be a pandemic, our federal and provincial health officers did not include the use of masks until much later. From my past experience with SARS, I felt this important aspect should have been included along with the other early intervention measures outlined … One only need to view the success of Hong Kong, where a population of approximately 7.4 million residing in a densely populated area has recorded only 1,129 cases and four deaths to date. To handle the physical distancing, nearly everyone wore masks outside of the home setting. This success factor was easier for the population to adopt as they had experience with SARS and the wearing of masks was culturally accepted.
“Unfortunately, until a vaccine or a quick and accurate test for Covid-19 is developed, everyone has to remain vigilant. Wearing a mask should be viewed as a measure of respect for the continued good health and well-being of everyone. It is a very small sacrifice to make which will quicken the elimination of the virus to a manageable level in order to escape our social fatigue and to shutter further economic damage.”
Exactly. A small sacrifice. How long do you shop in a grocery store? Maybe 10 minutes? You’re telling me your “freedom” isn’t worth giving up for 10 lousy minutes?
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
