As the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases continues to rise in Alberta, the debate on making face masks mandatory to wear in certain situations continues to swirl.
At first blush, one could easily conclude there shouldn’t be a debate at all – masks are proven to be an effective tool to help stop the spread of the COVID virus, so of course, everyone should be forced to wear one in public.
Not so fast, though. A little more thought into the issue and one can understand why there is a debate.
In today’s Gazette, there’s a story about a mother and her two-year-old daughter. The daughter was born with hearing loss and wears bilateral hearing aids. She relies on them and visual cues to communicate, including facial expression and lip movement. On top of that, wearing a mask can cause her hearing aids to fall out when she takes the mask off.
Mask-wearing can create a complicated environment for people who suffer from hearing loss and have a very consequential impact on the quality of their daily lives. Now, imagine if wearing face masks becomes mandatory. Very likely, a stigma would be developed towards people who aren’t abiding by the mandatory order. Forcing the issue could spawn a lack of tolerance and create division.
Wearing a mask can also create a false sense of security. We’ve likely all seen it – the clerk wearing a mask and a pair of rubber gloves. The gloves look like they’ve had a close encounter with a dumpster, and the clerk is touching and bagging the items you’ve purchased. The process is repeated with the next person in line.
Believe it or not, there can be a health danger to wearing masks. According to Colin Furness, an infection control epidemiologist, if people wear masks for extended periods of time without cleaning or replacing them, a bacterial biofilm can build up on the outside layer of the mask. This can cause bacterial lung infections along with its own set of health implications. Of course, there’s also the danger of touching one’s mask with dirty hands.
Face masks cannot be discussed in isolation as an essential tool in the battle against COVID-19. Social distancing and practising proper hygiene both need to be deployed. While these facts are well known, casual observation notes that they are being constantly violated. From the overpopulated beach at Sylvan Lake to the crowded outdoor patio and the clerk who handles your money and then passes you your food, simple violations are all-too-common occurrences.
To eliminate, or at least curtail, the spread of COVID-19, there really is no substitute for common sense. If we all frequently wash our hands, keep our hands away from our faces as much as possible, and socially distance ourselves in public places, we will all be safer. Doing these things in consort with wearing a face mask could be even more effective. Masks should be worn when distancing is not possible, particularly indoors but, face masks as the sole, emphasized solution is not a solution at all.
