essay about face mask

Why wearing a mask is the most important thing we can do to stop the spread of COVID-19

'Masks and face coverings can prevent the wearer from transmitting the COVID-19 virus to others and may provide some protection to the wearer.' Image:  REUTERS/Tingshu Wang

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Gabrielle fitzgerald.

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Stay up to date:.

• Messaging on the importance of wearing a mask during the pandemic has at times been confusing.
• Universal mask use can significantly reduce virus transmission in communities.
• Masks are not perfect barriers to transmission, and should be combined with other preventative measures such as social distancing and contact tracing.

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped life as we know it. Many of us are staying home, avoiding people on the street and changing daily habits, like going to school or work, in ways we never imagined.

While we are changing old behaviours, there are new routines we need to adopt. First and foremost is the habit of wearing a mask or face covering whenever we are in a public space.

Responding to the COVID-19 pandemic requires global cooperation among governments, international organizations and the business community , which is at the centre of the World Economic Forum’s mission as the International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation.

Since its launch on 11 March, the Forum’s COVID Action Platform has brought together 1,667 stakeholders from 1,106 businesses and organizations to mitigate the risk and impact of the unprecedented global health emergency that is COVID-19.

The platform is created with the support of the World Health Organization and is open to all businesses and industry groups, as well as other stakeholders, aiming to integrate and inform joint action.

As an organization, the Forum has a track record of supporting efforts to contain epidemics. In 2017, at our Annual Meeting, the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) was launched – bringing together experts from government, business, health, academia and civil society to accelerate the development of vaccines. CEPI is currently supporting the race to develop a vaccine against this strand of the coronavirus.

Based on our prior work in outbreaks of infectious diseases, we know that clear, consistent messages about what people can do to protect themselves and their community are critical. By that measure, the messaging on masks has been confusing.

Early in the pandemic, the general public was told not to wear masks. This was driven by the longstanding recognition that standard surgical masks (also called medical masks) are insufficient to protect the wearer from many respiratory pathogens, as well as the concern about diverting limited supplies from healthcare settings.

Science is the pursuit of knowledge and understanding, and it inevitably changes the way we see the world. Thanks to the tireless efforts of scientists everywhere, we have compressed years of research on the COVID-19 virus into months. This has led to a rapid evolution of policies and recommendations, and not surprisingly some skepticism about the advice of experts.

These are some of the things we’ve learned:

• Masks and face coverings can prevent the wearer from transmitting the COVID-19 virus to others and may provide some protection to the wearer . Multiple studies have shown that face coverings can contain droplets expelled from the wearer, which are responsible for the majority of transmission of the virus. This 'source control' approach reflects a shift in thinking from a 'medical' perspective (will it protect the wearer?) to a 'public health' perspective (will it help reduce community transmission and risk for everyone?).
• Many people with COVID-19 are unaware they are carrying the virus. It is estimated that 40% of persons with COVID-19 are asymptomatic but potentially able to transmit the virus to others. In the absence widespread screening tests, we have no way of identifying many people who are silently transmitting the virus in their community.
• Universal mask use can significantly reduce virus transmission in the community by preventing anyone, including those who are unwittingly carrying the virus, from transmitting it to others. Disease modeling suggests masks worn by significant portions of the population, coupled with other measures, could result in substantial reductions in case numbers and deaths.

Masks are not perfect barriers to transmission, but they don’t need to be perfect if they aren’t used alone. Universal mask use should be accompanied by other public health measures such as physical distancing, testing, contact tracing and restrictions on large gatherings. Those measures aren’t perfect either, but when many imperfect measures are combined at a community level, they can be very effective at slowing transmission and reducing infections.

Masks can also reduce the inequitable impact of the pandemic, particularly for those who live in crowded environments where physical distancing is difficult, and for those who work in frontline roles where there is a greater risk of exposure to the virus.

Have you read?

Do you wear a plastic mask here are 5 things you should know, 5 myths about face masks under the microscope, does your homemade mask work here’s how you can test it.

Wearing a mask isn’t a restriction of our freedom. Rather, it helps us to regain freedom by reducing virus transmission in a community and making every interaction safer. Freedom for people to go to work, attend school, interact with others, and most importantly freedom from illness and fear.

The best solution for the pandemic is a safe and effective vaccine, and the biopharmaceutical industry is working closely with governments, regulators, the scientific community and non-governmental organizations to develop vaccines at unprecedented speed.

But vaccines are unlikely to be available to most of the world for some time , and we need a way to protect communities and keep society functioning in the meantime. In combination with other measures, universal mask use could help drive virus transmission down to levels we expect to achieve after vaccines become available.

While we live in a globalized world, it is rare that nearly everyone on the planet needs to adopt a common behaviour at the same time. In the words of Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Board Chair of Gavi, “No one will be safe until everyone is safe. The time to act is now and the way to act is together.”

These are the reasons the Pandemic Action Network and partners around the world have come together around # WorldMaskWeek to inspire a global movement to #WearAMask. Join us for #WorldMaskWeek by posting a photo and sharing how you #WearAMask on your social media channels.

Our hope is that by creating a week where community, government, business, sports and entertainment leaders send the same message about this critical new behavior, everyone will understand the urgency of changing their behaviour and start wearing a mask, this week and every week.

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The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum.

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The Importance of Wearing Masks Essay

Wearing face masks became common during the coronavirus pandemic to reduce the spread of the virus. Before the pandemic, masks were majorly worn by medical personnel and patients in the hospital vicinity. Due to debates surrounding the significance of masks, several studies have been conducted to determine their effectiveness of masks. Findings of most of the studies conducted indicate masks play a significant role in curbing the spread of coronavirus and other airborne infections. This paper analyzes the importance of wearing masks based on the findings of medical studies.

Firstly, the appropriate wearing of masks reduces viral transmission significantly. According to a study, masks are essential in reducing the spread of a virus by 70%. However, this effect depends on how the mask is worn (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). When the mask covers both the mouth and the nose, it traps the droplets containing the virus and prevents them from contacting the nose or the mouth. Airborne infectious germs are often released in the environment when the infected person sneezes, coughs or talks. These droplets are then suspended in the atmosphere and are likely to be inhaled through air. Wearing masks act like a sieve that filters air and blocks droplets from penetrating the respiratory system.

Various types of masks filter the air at different degrees. The various masks include cloth masks, surgical masks, KN95 masks, and N95 masks (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2020). Cloth masks are the least effective masks, but they play a significant role in trapping large respiratory droplets suspended in the air. The surgical masks protect the wearer from large droplets and toxic sprays. Surgical masks are more effective than cloths masks. On the other hand, KN95 masks efficiently protect the wearer from inhaling small and large droplets. The KN95 is the most recommended mask that meets international standards, and they are more protective than surgical masks. Lastly, the N95 masks are the most effective of all masks, and they can filter both large and the tiniest particles, thus protecting the wearer from inhaling germs or infectious droplets.

Secondly, masks are essential in preventing one from spreading an airborne infection to others. As they trap the incoming droplets, masks also prevent outgoing droplets from leaking into the atmosphere. Droplets may be deposited in the air when the infected person sneezes or coughs. However, the infectious droplets are trapped when the infected person wears a mask. According to medical researchers, this is an effective way of controlling a highly contiguous infection from rapidly spreading from one person to another (Howard et al., 2020). Preventing the leakage of airborne infectious droplets is vital in ensuring the safety of others who are yet to be infected. This is because the air is maintained clean and safe for inhaling. According to the CDC, most of the initial deaths caused by the coronavirus pandemic would have been prevented if people had worn masks. The COVID-19 virus was mainly spread unsuspectingly (Howard et al., 2020). An infected person without a mask would release the droplets in the air through talking or sneezing, thus infecting several others who inhaled the air. Therefore, masks also enable one to protect themselves and those around them.

Thirdly, wearing face masks is essential because it allows faster control of a contagious infection. Airborne infections are often contagious and maybe take little time to spread within the community. This makes facemask an effective mechanism to control such a quick spread. There are various mechanisms for controlling the spread of airborne infection, including quarantine and isolation (MacIntyre & Chughtai, 2020). However, these mechanisms may not be effective in a populated environment, and the infection has already spread within the community. In this case, the infection rate is likely to be rapid, thus overwhelming the healthcare system. There is, therefore, the need for a mechanism that will prevent the spread of an infection before the other solutions are implemented. Wearing facemasks is a solution that can significantly reduce the amount of infection communally. This preventive mechanism allows the control of the airborne infection without largely interrupting the everyday life of the members of the affected area.

Fourthly, masks are important because they are hygienic. Aside from protecting the wearer from viral and airborne infections, face marks promote hygiene by preventing the passage of other forms of germs from the nose and mouth of the wearer to the environment. This is common in a healthcare setting (Scarano et al., 2021). It is often necessary for surgeons and other medical professionals to wear masks to prevent the spread of germs to patients. It is essential to wear a mask, especially when dealing with a patient with an open wound. According to researchers, the caregivers can transfer germs from their mouths or noses to the patients, thus affecting their recovery rate or introducing a new infection (Scarano et al., 2021). During operations, the transfer of germs from the surgeon to the patient’s open wound is likely to cause an even bigger problem that may pose a significant threat to the healing of the wound. It is, therefore, recommendable for medical professionals to wear masks to prevent such incidents.

Other circumstances make wearing masks unhealthy. Firstly, wearing a mask may be harmful when the wearer suffers from either physical or mental illness that may be worsened by wearing masks. This may include people suffering from chronic pulmonary diseases (Geiss, 2021). Secondly, people with neurodevelopmental conditions may suffer from increased anxiety caused by wearing masks. Thirdly, it is unhealthy for children below two years to wear a mask. These children have developing respiration systems and may suffer suffocation if they fail to get enough oxygen. Lastly, it is unhealthy for a mask wearer to wear masks for a long time (Geiss, 2021). Healthcare workers who wear masks for the whole day have often reported severe headaches believed to have been caused by a lack of enough oxygen.

In conclusion, facemasks are essential in reducing the spread of airborne infection in various ways. Firstly, they reduce viral transmission by preventing the wearer from inhaling the infectious droplets by trapping them. Secondly, they prevent the patient from releasing the infectious droplets into the environment, thus protecting those around them from being infected. Thirdly, facemasks effectively control the spread of an infection within a populated area without majorly interfering with the everyday lives of the residents. Fourthly, facemasks are hygienic by preventing the spread of germs from the medical professional to the patient. Lastly, masks boost people’s confidence with high anxiety levels caused by increased self-consciousness. However, there are circumstances where masks are not recommendable, including when the wearer has a mental and physical illness, children under the age of 2 years, and the people wearing the masks for a long time.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Considerations for wearing masks.

Geiss, O. (2021). Effect of wearing face masks on the carbon dioxide concentration in the breathing zone. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 21 (2), 200403.

Howard, J., Huang, A., Li, Z., Tufekci, Z., Zdimal, V., van der Westhuizen, H. M.,… & Rimoin, A. W. (2020). Face masks against COVID-19: An evidence review.

MacIntyre, C. R., & Chughtai, A. A. (2020). A rapid systematic review of the efficacy of face masks and respirators against coronaviruses and other respiratory transmissible viruses for the community, healthcare workers and sick patients. International Journal of Nursing Studies , 108 , 103629.

Peeples, L. (2020). What the data say about wearing face masks. Nature , 586 (7826), 186-189.

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IvyPanda. (2023, November 1). The Importance of Wearing Masks. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-wearing-masks/

"The Importance of Wearing Masks." IvyPanda , 1 Nov. 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-wearing-masks/.

IvyPanda . (2023) 'The Importance of Wearing Masks'. 1 November.

IvyPanda . 2023. "The Importance of Wearing Masks." November 1, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-wearing-masks/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Importance of Wearing Masks." November 1, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-wearing-masks/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Importance of Wearing Masks." November 1, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-importance-of-wearing-masks/.

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ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Face masks during the covid-19 pandemic: a simple protection tool with many meanings.

• 1 MUSE – Science Museum, Trento, Italy
• 2 Faculty of Croatian Studies, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
• 3 Croatian Institute for Brain Research, University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia
• 4 Institute for the Study of Science, Technology and Innovation, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
• 5 Business Information Systems, Cork University Business School, University College Cork, Cork, Ireland
• 6 Communication and Society Research Centre, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
• 7 University Hospital Medical Center “Bežanijska kosa”, and University of Belgrade Faculty of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
• 8 Department of Health Economics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
• 9 Department of Political Science, Centre for the Study of Contemporary Solidarity (CeSCoS), University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
• 10 Department of Global Health & Social Medicine, King's College London, London, United Kingdom

Wearing face masks is recommended as part of personal protective equipment and as a public health measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Their use, however, is deeply connected to social and cultural practices and has acquired a variety of personal and social meanings. This article aims to identify the diversity of sociocultural, ethical, and political meanings attributed to face masks, how they might impact public health policies, and how they should be considered in health communication. In May 2020, we involved 29 experts of an interdisciplinary research network on health and society to provide their testimonies on the use of face masks in 20 European and 2 Asian countries (China and South Korea). They reflected on regulations in the corresponding jurisdictions as well as the personal and social aspects of face mask wearing. We analyzed those testimonies thematically, employing the method of qualitative descriptive analysis. The analysis framed the four dimensions of the societal and personal practices of wearing (or not wearing) face masks: individual perceptions of infection risk, personal interpretations of responsibility and solidarity, cultural traditions and religious imprinting, and the need of expressing self-identity. Our study points to the importance for an in-depth understanding of the cultural and sociopolitical considerations around the personal and social meaning of mask wearing in different contexts as a necessary prerequisite for the assessment of the effectiveness of face masks as a public health measure. Improving the personal and collective understanding of citizens' behaviors and attitudes appears essential for designing more effective health communications about COVID-19 pandemic or other global crises in the future.

To wear a face mask or not to wear a face mask?

Nowadays, this question has been analogous

to the famous line from Shakespeare's Hamlet:

“To be or not to be, that is the question.”

This is a bit allegorical ,

but certainly not far from the current circumstances

where a deadly virus is spreading amongst us ... Vanja Kopilaš, Croatia.

Introduction

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is currently perceived as one of the greatest global threats, not only to public health and well-being, but also to global economic and social stability. While the first two decades of the third millennium were characterized by crisis—most notably the economic downturn of 2008 and the looming climate change—the spread of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) virus originating from China has given rise to most drastic societal and political responses. These included measures as severe as states forbidding citizens from leaving their homes and effectively shutting down all social and economic activities ( 1 ). In Europe, Italy was the first country to officially detect the presence of COVID-19 in its territory, and it swiftly adopted measures to contain its spread ( 2 – 4 ). Within a few weeks, the epidemic progressively spread across Europe. Because of the novel situation and the contradictory opinions of experts, including representatives of the scientific community and World Health Organization (WHO), the level of threat caused by the disease appeared unclear ( 5 ). The assessment of the perceived risks of the disease varied in the public discourse—some considered it just as “a stronger influenza”; others drew parallels with the very deadly Spanish Flu outbreak in the 1918–1920, and many were simply not sure what to believe. Nevertheless, most felt the novel and unpleasant feeling of being vulnerable to the invisible threat of the infection (i.e., to be the ones in danger) or to be contagious themselves (i.e., to be the danger).

A variety of public health and hygiene measures have been initiated; the most visually noticeable perhaps is the wearing of face masks. The medical research on the use of face masks as personal protective equipment (PPE) against SARS-CoV-2 transmission was interpreted very cautiously, and the initial guidance from health officials was conflicting ( 6 ). The WHO advice was conceived to avoid unnecessary paternalism and at the same time be comprehensive in discussing different medical aspects of mask use. However, it was updated several times, shifting from initial statements that face masks are not to be worn by healthy individuals toward gradual adoption of face masks as useful in slowing community transmission. In particular, “…WHO has updated its guidance to advise that to prevent COVID-19 transmission effectively in areas of community transmission, governments should encourage the general public to wear masks in specific situations and settings as part of a comprehensive approach to suppress SARS-CoV-2 transmission” ( 7 ). Gradually, face mask use has been recognized as a suitable measure within the scientific community ( 8 – 12 ), if nothing else due to the application of the “precautionary principle” in the face of an acute crisis ( 13 , 14 ). This has since been backed up by empirical observations ( 15 , 16 ).

Different, mandatory or voluntary, practices, and contradictory indications about the utility of face mask wearing were introduced across affected countries. Generally speaking, face masks have been adopted as one of the measures to reduce the COVID-19 spread across Europe, despite the fact that wearing masks in Europe is not common or familiar, and it is often associated with Asian countries ( 17 ). The social conventions and personal meanings of face mask use have received relatively little attention. Its use is deeply connected to social and cultural practices, as well as political, ethical, and health-related concerns, personal, and social meanings ( 18 , 19 ).

In this study, our aim was to address three aspects of face mask wearing—public policies, individual behaviors and attitudes, and the collective experiences of the affected communities. In order to develop insights into the wider meanings of face mask wearing beyond (just) preventing the spread of infection, we tapped into the expertise of a scholarly interdisciplinary network, the Navigating Knowledge Landscapes—NKL ( http://knowledge-landscapes.hiim.hr/ ), predominantly consisting of Europe-based scholars. The network is dedicated to furthering research on topics related to medicine, health, and society and comprises academics working across the disciplinary spectrum. We invited NKL members in May 2020 to provide their observations on the topic, also based on their professional experience. They were asked to describe the face mask usage in their countries and provide their subjective standpoints and/or those from their social environment. Subsequently, these testimonies within the specific time window (May 2020) containing narratives on face masks from the contributing experts were thematically analyzed using the method of qualitative descriptive analysis ( 20 , 21 ).

Materials and Methods

The invitation to write their views about face mask wearing was sent by e-mail to 97 experts, all members of the interdisciplinary research network Navigating Knowledge Landscapes (NKL; http://knowledge-landscapes.hiim.hr/ ). The invitation was sent on May 11, 2020, and the responses were collected until May 26, 2020 (over 16 days' period). The experts were asked to contribute a single-page narrative structured in four parts, framed as follows:

• Part 1: What are the rules adopted in your country about face mask wearing? What would be the overall approach for use of the face masks in your community (government instructions, availability, the citizen compliance)?

• Part 2: What is your individual/personal attitude and practice in relation to face masks? If applicable, start with good practice and end with what you consider to be mistakes.

• Part 3: How do you judge the behavior of people you encounter? Face masks (or no face masks) and interpersonal interactions. Again, start with positive and end with negative.

• Part 4 (optional): free to say whatever you think is important to the practices of your community in relation to face masks.

Twenty-nine scholars responded (30% of those invited), providing 27 contributions (two contributions were coauthored). They were from 22 countries, 20 from Europe (Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Czechia, Estonia, Hungary, Italy, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, Ukraine, and United Kingdom) and two from Asia (China and South Korea). The contributors belonged to the following academic disciplines: biology (2), economics (1), engineering (2), information systems (1), law (1), medicine (6), philosophy (5), psychology (1), and sociology (10).

The contributors as experts are all highly educated (Ph.D., holders or Ph.D., students), and most of them are employed in academic institutions and perform research activities in their respective disciplines. The authors of this study were among the contributors.

The testimonials were based on the aforementioned open-ended questions and narrative in style. “Face mask” was used as the umbrella term for all types of face coverings, from the custom-made cotton scarves to disposable surgical masks and medical-grade N95 respirators. This was done to preserve the authenticity of these narratives without going into detail about the medical or microbiological features of the different types of face coverings. In the same way, grammatical or vocabulary use of non-native English speakers was kept as it was. The contributions received were collected and published as a citable open-source dataset at Mendeley Data repository ( 22 ).

The contributions were thematically analyzed by employing a qualitative descriptive approach ( 23 ). We chose this method because it aimed to provide “rich descriptions about a phenomenon, which little may be known about” [( 23 ), p. 3] and was particularly useful for exploratory research such as our study. It is characterized by staying close to the empirical data, instead of seeking to provide a more conceptual interpretation of the phenomenon in question. Moreover, open-ended questions address different aspects of the same topic and allow formulating answers that could let respondents to frame face mask wearing according to their own personal views ( 24 ).

Concerning the thematic analysis, we divided testimonials in three categories. The first category captured the situation in the respondent's country; the subcategories we were interested in were the regulatory framework and the supply situation in each respective country. The second category captured experts' own use of masks. Here we focused in particular on whether and in which situations they reported to wear (or not wear) masks, what kind of face covering they used, and the meaning they ascribed to masks (e.g., mask wearing as a symbol of social cohesion). Third, we categorized the participants' accounts regarding the practices and attitudes of mask wearing they observed in others. We created an MS Excel file in which we collected the respondents' statements on these different categories. In a subsequent step, we analyzed the data for patterns and recurring topics. We looked for country-specific differences and similarities in regulations and practices. Moreover, we also paid close attention to how the experts made sense of their experiences with mask wearing and how the issues addressed were expressed (e.g., experts referring to folk stories, metaphors, or past incidents). When presenting our research results, we focused on the topics we identified as prevalent through our inductive analysis, and we contextualized it based on the published research.

The narratives analyzed in this study were given with the full consent of the people who wrote them and were made available for public access as an open-source repository for the research purpose ( 22 ). All the authors provided their consent that the narratives are published in the repository under their full name and affiliation and that they can be used for research purposes. The authors were cited here under their full names, recognizing their authorship of the narratives and their contribution to the dataset collection. The study received ethical approvals from the Ethical Committees of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK and the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Croatian Studies, Croatia.

Face Mask Wearing From Medical to Public Settings

The use of a face mask—of various specifications according to the required degree of protection/function—is part of the PPE required in several professional activities, most noticeable in healthcare. One of the participants in this study, who works in healthcare, described her own experience in terms of the caring features of the face masks from medical to communal setting.

“ As an obstetrician–gynecologist, I am used with the mask, I feel it a part of my professional life, and I am trying to convince people that there is no way of considering the mask as an enemy but as a protection-like and umbrella against the rain, like a coat against the cold—and as a sign of civilization to protect our colleges and people around.” [Iuliana Ceausu, Romania]

The contextual transfer of face mask use from healthcare settings to public spaces is precisely the aspect of making the “outside world” closely resemble scientific apparatus. This includes measuring its success as a feature of the social power derived from the accuracy of the scientific prediction. For instance, Latour ( 25 ) specifically examines the public nature of Pasteur's demonstration of the efficacy of the process of animal vaccination by making a “prophecy” that vaccinated cattle on a pilot farm will survive, while other infected animals will perish. In the same way, the (anecdotally) apparent success of the use of face masks reinforces the belief in their utility and efficacy:

“ The people working in the shops would use the masks too… I see familiar faces of the employees all the times of lockdown, although they spend all time in the shop with many different customers, obviously they did not get sick. This was for me a major reassuring fact that the danger is not so high as it could be seen from the media.” [Srećko Gajović, Croatia]

It is worth remembering here the significant number of deaths of inadequately protected healthcare workers during the COVID-19 epidemic in various countries, mainly due to the lack of the appropriate PPE supplies ( 26 ).

The Politics of a Face Mask

Following initial confusion around the utility of face masks for slowing down the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, there is increasing scientific evidence to support citizens' wearing of face coverings, albeit the public health advice and legislation vary from country to country. A recent study in Germany indicated that a mandatory approach to face mask wearing achieved better compliance than voluntary one, and it was perceived as an effective, fair, and socially responsible measure ( 27 ).

In our study, accordingly, the reported country policies differed across rather a wide spectrum of approaches—ranging from legally mandated instructions to cover one's face in all public spaces reinforced by financial penalties (i.e., payable fines), to recommendations only, official indifference, or advice against this practice ( Table 1 ). We were interested how these policies related to the concurrent COVID-19 situation expressed as total number and increase of cases per million people in these countries during the period when experts made their contributions. We observed an obvious trend showing that the countries with more strict rules had better epidemiological situation than those not mandating the face mask usage ( Table 1 ).

Table 1 . Perception of the official policies on face mask usage in May 2020.

In some countries, face mask–related policies did not need to be prescribed as this was part of existing established habits; in the same way, no fines are necessary to get people to wash their hands. In particular, since the SARS epidemic in 2003, in many Asian countries, masks are customary wear used to protect against seasonal flu and the common cold. In China and South Korea, they are also employed to protect citizens from pollutants ( 17 , 29 ).

“ In South Korea, it is common to wear a mask to keep the cold from getting worse in the winter and to prevent the spread of cold to others. Also, as the yellow dust from China and fine dust became much severe, it was common for many people, especially children, to wear masks even before the corona crisis. For this reason, many families even had a lot of masks in their homes before the corona crisis. Personally, I'm familiar with wearing a mask, and I'd like to wear it in order not to harm other people, as I may be a potential patient.” [Jiwon Shim, South Korea]

In contrast, in the West, the use of face masks is rare in social settings. Hence, because of the public visibility of face mask usage, face masks became an ideological symbol in some countries, with divergent political mindsets governing their adaption or rejection ( 17 ). Political dividing lines were particularly apparent in the United States, where the President refused to wear a mask until the last days of July 2020, when the floundering poll numbers and the increasing numbers of COVID-19 cases prompted the need to recommend this health protection device ( 30 ). Thus, in the United States and elsewhere, face masks were used by citizens to express their opinions in public.

“ At the beginning of the pandemic, the use of masks had political connotations: since the government advised against their use, their wearing was even considered a form of political opinion.” [Iñigo de Miguel Beriain, Spain]

The public statement made by wearing (or not wearing) the face mask did not only address the political standpoints but have also been used to communicate various societally relevant statements, i.e., stating ethnical, religious, or cultural affiliations ( 31 ). For instance, many countries that before COVID-19 banned face coverings in public spaces are now mandating it, supporting the idea that the past bans were motivated on the basis of religious/cultural beliefs ( 17 ).

“ Ethical and moral dilemmas have already risen, especially in countries where Muslim minorities live. If you ban a burka covering the face due to security reasons, how would you deal with massive usage of face masks?” [Gentian Vyshka, Albania]

  “ The decision to wear a face mask is not an easy one. Traditionally, face coverings are an indicator of political persuasion and religious belief. I perceive that the widespread covering of one's face in public is a significant cultural and social shift in Ireland.” [Ciara Heavin, Ireland]

“To Wear a Face Mask, or Not to Wear a Face Mask, That Is the Question…”

The collected narratives indicated that the contributors had a clear standpoint on their own face mask usage and developed arguments to support their decisions to wear or not to wear face masks.

  “ As soon as I leave the house and find myself in the supermarket or in public places, I wear a mask. However, I do not wear a mask when I take a walk in the forest. I started wearing it even before it became mandatory. I think it is important to wear masks, especially to avoid endangering others, e.g., elderly people. I find it unspeakable when people who wear masks are ridiculed by those who do not wear masks. At least that's what happened to me in the beginning, before the mask duty… Many thought that the people wearing masks would want to protect themselves in particular. Very few thought that people wearing masks wanted to protect their social environment.” [Melike Sahinol, Turkey]

  “ My personal view is that as long as the spread of the virus is under control (as it currently is), there is no need to make the masks obligatory. I personally have not worn a mask (have not purchased any either) with the exception of when I visited healthcare institution (provided by them). I must also say, though, that none of my family members are considered a vulnerable population. If my grandmother would live with us, I might think differently.” [Kadri Simm, Estonia]

What was exemplified in many narratives is that individual usage is not meant predominantly for an individual's self-protection, but the decision was based on people's relationship to others. The citizens' question “should I protect myself” evolved into “can I protect the others?”

“ I wear disposable masks, understanding they protect others from me, more than me from others. I wear them to demonstrate responsible behavior and attitude to benefit of society.” [Predrag Pale, Croatia]

The experiences of interaction with others in relation to face mask wearing were mentioned frequently, indicating the importance of the social context of individual behavior.

“ I experienced cases when my request to keep distance or to take on a mask properly was treated offensively or as a sign of mistrust…” [Christina Nasadyuk, Ukraine]

  “ I put it on when I go to the grocery store because at the early stage of the pandemic, I was warned by the lady working at the counter that I am putting her life ‘in danger by not wearing a mask.' Obviously, I did not want to take chances with her life again, so I purchased one of those cloth masks.” [Vanja Kopilaš, Croatia]

However, many testimonies pointed out that masks have not been used properly. The health risks of incorrectly wearing a face mask represent an important argument against the use of face masks as a public health measure ( 32 ).

“ …25% wore masks improperly, on their necks, or covering only their mouths, but not noses. …They do not know how to put the mask on, and when they remove their masks, they touch the outside of the mask, which is inappropriate and wrong.” [Izet Mašić, Bosnia and Herzegovina]

  “ Also, one can observe many cases of half-compliance or sham compliance. For instance, people do wear masks, but slide them down onto their chins or take them off completely while talking to someone on the street or speaking on the phone. And this is all a performance, keeping their masks somewhere within reach in case of the sudden emergence of police officers, who are indeed issuing fines for not wearing a mask.” [Aleksandra Głos, Poland]

This is even more complicated in situations when face masks were scarce (the stocks gradually improved through time in all examined locales).

“ During the early stages of disease progression, mask wearing was not a common practice, mainly due to the complete absence and highly inflated prices in stores.” [Rostyslav Bilyy, Ukraine]

   “ I do not use face mask. In the early stage of the COVID-19 epidemic in Norway, my understanding was that available masks should be reserved for people in the health and caring sector.” [Anna Lydia Svalastog, Norway]

   “ I think the biggest concern is that the mask has been in short supply for a long time, and that its trade has not been subject to official pricing, so prices have been uncontrolled… The mask was in short supply when emergency was announced, but it is now available in many places and can be obtained at the checkout of almost every grocery store if someone started shopping without it.” [Norbert Buzas, Hungary]

The shortage of masks ignited a burst of creativity in producing homemade masks, with a proliferation of tutorials for their production on the Internet and social media.

“ Nowhere was possible to come to the face masks. Typical situation: the government did announce decree, but it did not provide the means for its implementation. We as ordinary citizens need to improvise with needlework of masks at home as well. Taking in regard that immediately rapacious war profiteers did appear by selling masks the needlework of masks at home was even not the worst solution.” [Franc Mali, Slovenia]

  “ Although during the first weeks there was lack of masks and respirators, it was great how many people proved their creativity. It concerned not only the textile reusable masks, but also design and development of respirators with higher level of protection. They were mostly printed on 3D printers. Later on, some of the approved types were taken by larger producers, and mass production started.” [Lenka Lhotska, Czechia]

Mask Wearing at the Interface of Personal and Social Responsibility

Besides being shaped by public discourse and social norms, risk perception also has a strong personal element. Some people seem like they do not care; others are quite relaxed, and some are more cautious. As for COVID-19, conflicting perspectives and emotions and even the psychological entrapment syndrome known as “cabin fever” (i.e., referencing long winter isolation in a small cabin) have been reported ( 33 ). Here, restricted microenvironments and quarantine are felt as secure places. The additional challenges were noticeable during the shift from the lockdown phase and the beginning of the so-called “phase 2” or “reopening” when people were allowed to leave their home again.

“ ‘Convivere,' i.e., ‘live together with' the virus is the expression used by experts and media, to describe the phase 2, but this narrative could result quite distressing: how glad would someone be when living with a submicroscopic entity, that is such dangerous?” [Lucia Martinelli, Italy]

During this second phase, going back to living with “the others” demands new social behavior/etiquette combined with increased safety measures. The face masks start to be part of the new everyday rituals of saying hello, having a coffee together, and protecting each other. The role of peers in shaping the behavior of others is significant. People not committed to wearing mask can feel peers' pressure to comply. Moreover, “a collapse between the status of being at risk and being a risk ” was noted ( 34 – 36 ).

“ The face mask, I realize, signals both positions, at the same time as it doesn't provide a definite answer: are you the risk object or the object at risk? Saying this, my individual attitude toward face masks cannot be pried apart from the social acceptance and use of the same. As long as the nonuse of face masks constitutes the norm, I will most likely interpret the usage as deviant and worrying. On the other hand, if the vast majority of the Swedish population would wear face masks, I would most likely start wearing a face mask as well. Here, the mass effect kicks in.” [Jennie Olofsson, Sweden]

   “ The massive use of the masks among Albanian citizens… has become a normal well-adopted ritual of surviving, implemented as of a social significance for ‘not letting the virus in.' This social cohesion on the intrapersonal view as ‘to scare the virus” and ‘fear of an enemy' comes close to a group approach of ‘control and stability.' This ritual of social cohesion vis-à-vis the ‘fear of death' or ‘fear of the unknowing' is a similar to a psychological regression, when the individual survival depended largely from the herd.” [Gentian Vyshka, Albania]

   “ For me, unlike other measures to contain the spread of the virus, the wearing of masks is predominantly a symbol of social cohesion and complying with the rules and not so much a measure to effectively protect myself and others from infection. The few times I saw someone without a mask entering a supermarket or the metro, my first thoughts were about social deviance and the arrogance of ignoring a commonly agreed-upon practice, and not about the risk of infection.” [Mirjam Pot & Barbara Prainsack, Austria]

Individual and collective responsibility and trust in the institutions and in the official assessment of risks and recommendations as to the adopted measures are crucial to build up a degree of epistemic agreement ( 37 ). However, this is perhaps more challenging in a contested environment of “recommendation trust” ( 38 ), which likely depends on communicating certainty ( 39 ), of which very little has been seen during COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, the acceptance of official advice varied among countries, cultures, and political contexts, with some degree of contradiction.

“ In general, there seems to be a relatively wide acceptance of government recommendations, but a very patchy uptake. Though the Scottish Government advice is trusted more than that from the UK Government, significant generational and cultural differences can be seen as to its implementation… in a multicultural society such as Scotland, there are some subtle differences between people from different cultural backgrounds and traditions who are either more accustomed to follow stricter government instructions, or from cultures where face mask wearing is more commonplace.” [Matjaž Vidmar, Scotland, UK]

   “ Finally, as an anecdote, I would mention the recent case of expelling an opposition MP from the Assembly because he did not have a mask on his face, although the Prime Minister who warned the MP did not have a mask either.” [Zoran Todorović, Serbia]

The pandemic also seems to have reminded many people about the responsibility of humanity toward the preservation of all the living organisms and, as recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ( 40 ), that our health is closely connected to the health of whole environment.

“ We should see ourselves as the most important participants and the biggest beneficiaries of public health, so we should take expert advice—wear mask. In other word, under this special situation, we need to work with medical experts, government to co-build a safe, harmonious and orderly living world with ‘One Health' concept, rather to resist or despise it.” [Bie Ying Long, China]

The Face Mask: A New Barrier Affecting Social Relations?

If we assume that in the near future we will be used to living with the pandemic, or even a series of pandemics, we are currently developing new norms for social interaction. Being with other people and enjoying their company are essential for our mental and physical well-being. How do these interactions include face mask usage? What will socializing look like in the era of physical distancing (i.e., “keeping a safe space between yourself and other people who are not from your household”) ( 41 )? These issues are being recognized as particularly challenging.

“ We must reinforce the message that face masks do not remove (or even reduce) the need for social distancing as well as excellent hand and respiratory hygiene. We need to avoid a situation where face masks become a weapon that could negatively impact our fight against this invisible enemy.” [Ciara Heavin, Ireland]

   “ I believe the benefits of face masks may be overestimated and lead us into a false sense of security in which we take unwarranted risks—such as touching more objects and neglecting handwashing or going outside when suffering from a cough or cold. Therefore, my preference would be to give greater attention to other steps such as providing screens and visors for workers in public facing roles and reinforcing protective mechanisms around social distancing.” [Helena Webb & Sue Ziebland, England, UK]

   “ Since the use of a mask started to become widespread, people seem to feel safer and unfortunately are more at risk, for example, not maintaining physical distance, making appointments with extended family and friends, etc.” [Helena Machado, Portugal]

Not all evidence is in support of above assessments that face masks bring about a (false) sense of security. In a recent study conducted in the Italian Venice metropolitan area, wearing a mask has proven to be a visual factor strengthening physical distancing as a public health measure ( 3 ). Between February 24 and April 29, 2020, distances have been measured by an operator wearing an exclusive sensor-based “social distancing belt.” They were interchangeably “unmasked,” “masked,” “do it yourself (DIY)-masked,” “goggles masked,” and “goggles DIY-masked.” Results show that people tended to stay closer to an unmasked person, while mask wearing tended to increase the physical distance. This paradox is explained by considering humans' intrinsic social nature that favors social vs. antisocial behaviors ( 3 ). Wearing a mask thus can turn unconscious social behavior into conscious antisocial behavior.

“ I believe that due to the extraordinarity of wearing face coverings in public spaces in Scotland, these do not encourage an undue feeling of ‘safety' by their use, rather the reverse. Hence, with full awareness that the evidence for being protected by this measure is not there, rather, I hope that by wearing a face covering, I may remind (or even deter) others from breaking social distancing rules.” [Matjaž Vidmar, Scotland, UK]

Marchiori's study ( 3 ) also suggests that distance increases with face mask wearing, thus supporting the importance of visual stimuli as a signal of danger. This fact recalled in the mind of our colleague, Bie Ying Long, the ancient Chinese tale of “The Blind Man Who Lights a Lantern While He Walks in the Night,” which proposes a “wise” interpretation of action as interplay of altruism and self-interest ( 42 ). When people asked a blind man for the reason why was he carrying a large lantern when he traveled at night, he replied that while day and night were not different to him, carrying a lantern while walking in the night was for the sake of everyone. For him, the lantern provided protection from other people, allowing them to avoid bumping into him. For others, carrying a lantern shone a light on them and let them walk more securely.

“ In the present, we should learn the kind of survival wisdom of the blind man in the story. To wear a mask proactively does not mean ‘I'm infected with the virus,' rather to protect my own health. At the same time, it is a reminder to others that we are still in a time of crisis; we need to pay highly attention to our health and life safety very seriously.” [Bie Ying Long, China]

However, face mask use may have adverse systemic effects, as well:

“ The use of a mask is seen as an act of responsibility and altruism. However, I notice that people with masks tend to avoid personal interaction and to decrease the time they talk to each other. They avoid looking at others.” [Helena Machado, Portugal]

   “ The syntagm social distancing is problematic because it symbolically transforms the rule of physical distance into the subversion or deconstruing of social ties. Face masks are strongly related to this implicated meaning. The human estrangement as a part of the ‘COVID-19 regime' is the reason I have been more annoyed by some people strongly emphasizing the need for masks and physical distance than by those exhibiting the lack of interest for the personal protection against the infection.” [Renata Šribar, Slovenia]

In this framework, institutional health communication plays a crucial role in motivating citizens to wear face masks and use them properly (i.e., how to handle it and how to cover one's mouth and nose), as well as to respect physical distancing and hygiene procedures. Here, the choices of narratives by public health system officials play a crucial role. Accordingly, the expression “social distance” tends to be avoided nowadays. “Physical distancing” has been adopted by the WHO, which they define as keeping a distance and avoiding spending time in crowded places or in groups ( 43 ). More distressing expressions such as “avoiding all unnecessary contacts” and “unnecessary contacts with the others” are used in some official advices ( 44 ). These messages may appear authoritarian, by intruding in the personal space of what is “unnecessary” and about who are “the others” when considering social contacts and human relations.

Conversely, an interesting example for motivating the correct use of face masks is the communication campaign “Per tornare tutti insieme a sorridere” [To get back to smiling together] by the Italian Health Ministry ( 45 ). This message designed to stimulate feelings of mutual protection and solidarity among relatives, as well as among strangers. Motivation is crucial because, as we have demonstrated, a face mask can be perceived as both a physical and psychological barrier, particularly in countries where covering one's face is not a common habit.

Wearing a face mask, in fact, makes it hard to recognize if someone is smiling at you and to acknowledge non-verbal communication and emotions shared with facial expressions. This limitation has been noticed in the interactions with older, fragile, and cognitively impaired persons/patients, communication with whom strongly relies on body language ( 46 ). Not only in these contexts, but also in relation to day-to-day activities, especially with strangers, new communication skills are necessary, such as direct eye contact ( 47 ) and body gestures. Moreover, to communicate with those with hearing loss, special transparent masks have been proposed ( 48 ). As the fear of infection makes us more distrustful of strangers and even of friends and family members, to achieve the social interaction we were used to before the pandemic, a new demonstration of care and affection should be conceived.

“ When I walk and nobody is around me, I do not have my mask on the mouth and nose; however, when I'm approaching people, I pose it in the proper way and smile (with my eyes): I consider this a sort of ‘greetings and courtesy nod,' a way to say ‘I care for your health, do not be afraid by me, we will help each other.' I consider it as a message of solidarity.” [Lucia Martinelli, Italy]

Although a “simple” face mask may not be considered in or of itself a sophisticated technological artifact, its systemic use in healthcare settings, its past adopted use in certain social contexts, and the current significant expansion of its application to public health measures (as evidenced through the testimonies and literature outlined above), it can be understood as a facet of a substantial technoscientific project. Importantly, face mask use in the case of COVID-19 has an obvious medical/healthcare connotation, even though face masks are used in many professions to protect the workers against inhaling dust or harmful substances. In fact, many mask types worn during the pandemic come from non-medical supplies (the standard “filtering face-piece” or FFP1 and FFP2 models). However, it is the medical-grade masks that serve as a reference point for all other (varieties of) face coverings.

Face mask wearing can be conceived within the practice of extending the medical science into the “outside world,” by making the behaviors and rituals of the society/culture more alike the scientific (laboratory) practices ( 25 ). The ideological repertoires used in doing so, however, depend critically on cultural differences among societies being thus transformed, and understanding them can help contextualize the political and social dimensions of implementing this public health measure. Such understanding can also serve as a resource for the introduction of other measures, as well as the uptake of face mask wearing in environments where it has not yet been adopted. In short, face masks are being recognized as boundary objects mediating between different individual and collective ideologies ( 31 ) and are as such artifacts with distinct politics ( 49 ).

The aim of this exploratory study was to understand face mask wearing in terms of public policies, individual behaviors and attitudes, and the collective experiences of the affected communities. The main results of our study highlight that the societal and personal practices of wearing (or not wearing) face masks are influenced by ( 1 ) individual perceptions of infection risk, ( 2 ) personal interpretations of responsibility and solidarity, ( 3 ) cultural traditions and religious imprinting, and ( 4 ) the need of expressing self-identity.

First, even for individuals who might not be concerned for their personal health and safety, the wearing of a face mask often indicates a level of care and respect toward others. The decision about wearing a face mask is mediated by standpoints on utility of face masks based on scientific knowledge and/or in the absence of scientific consensus also on political beliefs ( 17 ).

Second, the behaviors of others were described in the collected testimonies in terms of societal responsibilities and rituals of social interaction, highlighting the role of peers in shaping the individual behavior. The narratives shine a light on the perceived balance between protecting oneself and social responsibility, reasserting the notion “If the people wearing masks are protecting you, isn't it right that you should protect them in return?” ( 17 ). However, this leads to inherent contradictions in the behavioral change required. The interchangeability of being at risk and being a risk is particularly striking ( 34 – 36 ), making face mask wearing both an act of self-interest as well as altruism ( 42 ). In a similar vein, what could be perceived previously as anti-sociable behavior may now be beneficial for societal well-being (protection against the pandemic) and, in fact, preferred ( 3 ).

Third, our analysis highlighted that many countries, specifically those in Europe, that previously banned face coverings in public spaces are now mandating them. Face mask wearing has enjoyed varying levels of acceptance across different cultural, governmental, and religious environments; however, even in our study, we could show that the strict rules correspond to the better epidemiological situation ( 50 ). Moreover, the voluntary policy and insufficient compliance can be perceived as less fair allowing individuals to compromise epidemiological measures, while a mandatory policy appears as an effective, fair, and socially responsible ( 27 ). Although the mask can become a symbol of the fight against the virus or of neglect, it remains controversial who and when should have the control on the use of the symbol ( 51 ).

Fourth, the use of face masks preventing the spread of the virus is complemented or even upgraded by the use of face mask as a visual communication tool during times of lockdown and isolation providing a new way to communicate during a pandemic. This covers both political statements in relation to states' public health measures, as well as personal expression of raising awareness, collective solidarity, or just as a part of new pandemic-related esthetic.

We hope that this research will help develop new frameworks to guide a more holistic approach to understanding and enabling behavioral change among citizens, as well as enabling new models for non-verbal communication, noting specific challenges such as disability ( 46 , 48 ). Recent articles highlight the need to develop new ways to communicate while wearing face masks through body language, particularly in terms of using eye contact to communicate emotion ( 52 , 53 ). Also, there is an opportunity to develop new ethical frameworks to guide collective and individual decision making around face coverings. For health policy makers, our study highlights that public messaging plays a crucial role in institutional health communication and that in-depth knowledge of various cultures and ethics concerning health habits are relevant to informing and developing reliable information resources and policies for citizens during a global health pandemic.

However, this study was not without limitations. We acknowledge that our sample is yet representative of a group of intellectuals with a higher level of education, and therefore, the data cannot be generalized to the whole society. The methods we applied for data collection and analysis, however, fit the aim of our research: to explore the broad range of personal and social meanings of mask wearing in different countries. Furthermore, our sample combines the professional and personal observations by health and other experts providing a unique interdisciplinary perspective on face masks. Although we asked standard questions, we let people answer them in freestyle. We did not ask our authors to alter, explain, or correct their narratives in any way.

As shown by the narratives, during the COVID-19 crisis, inconsistent information may influence citizens' level of perceived risk, thus resulting in excessive fear or denial of the reality of the pandemic ( 54 ). The credibility and the source of the information may be crucial to promoting citizen compliance and best practice of face mask wearing. Here, the need to better communicate the complexities of (un)certainty ( 39 ) may be a useful lesson for public health officials and experts building “recommendation trust” in their advice ( 38 ).

From a purely medical perspective, the effectiveness of measures to contain the spread of the virus is independent of the geographic area where these measures are implemented. From a social scientific perspective, however, individual and public health is always embedded, in particular social, cultural, and political contexts. Because of these influencing factors, health measures and devices are imbued with particular meanings that differ across countries. The specific meaning of a device, such as a mask, acquires also shapes how people deal with it and how they integrate it (or not) into their everyday routines and practices ( 55 ). Ultimately, this implies that studying the personal and social meaning of mask wearing in different contexts is also necessary for the assessment of the effectiveness of face masks as a public health measure.

In conclusion, our study points out the need of an in-depth understanding of the various social, cultural, religious, and ethical considerations on health habits and attitudes in a time of pandemics. Additional knowledge about the variety of personal and collective understanding of face mask wearing is essential for designing more effective health communication during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

Data Availability Statement

The datasets presented in this study can be found in online repositories. The names of the repository/repositories and accession number(s) can be found below: http://dx.doi.org/10.17632/9s6fm7vdbc.1 ( 22 ).

Ethics Statement

The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by Ethical Committees of the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, UK and the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Croatian Studies, Croatia. The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study. Written informed consent was obtained from the individual(s) for the publication of any potentially identifiable images or data included in this article.

Author Contributions

LM, VK, SG, CH, HM, NB, MP, and BP: designed the study. LM, VK, and SG: performed data acquisition, organization and analysis and wrote the first version of the manuscript. VK, MV, CH, HM, ZT, NB, MP, and BP: contributed to the interpretation of the results and critically revised manuscript. All authors approved the submission to the journal.

SG and VK acknowledge EU European Regional Development Fund, Operational Programme Competitiveness and Cohesion, grant agreement No.KK.01.1.1.01.0007, CoRE—Neuro, and awarded to University of Zagreb School of Medicine for financial support.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

We are grateful to the University of Zagreb, Faculty of Croatian Studies for covering Ph.D. tuition fees for VK. We thank Navigating Knowledge Landscapes Network for providing the framework for the study.

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Keywords: COVID-19, face mask, physical distancing, health communication, personal protecting equipment

Citation: Martinelli L, Kopilaš V, Vidmar M, Heavin C, Machado H, Todorović Z, Buzas N, Pot M, Prainsack B and Gajović S (2021) Face Masks During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Simple Protection Tool With Many Meanings. Front. Public Health 8:606635. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2020.606635

Received: 15 September 2020; Accepted: 27 November 2020; Published: 13 January 2021.

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Copyright © 2021 Martinelli, Kopilaš, Vidmar, Heavin, Machado, Todorović, Buzas, Pot, Prainsack and Gajović. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY) . The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

*Correspondence: Srećko Gajović, srecko.gajovic@hiim.hr

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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We Did the Research: Masks Work, and You Should Choose a High Quality Mask if Possible

By Jason Abaluck ,  Laura H. Kwong and Stephen P. Luby

Mr. Abaluck is a professor of economics at the Yale University School of Management. Ms. Kwong is an assistant professor in environmental health sciences at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health. Dr. Luby is a professor of medicine in the infectious diseases division at Stanford University.

Masks, especially surgical ones, substantially reduce the risk of getting Covid-19. Getting more people to wear them — through mandates or strategies like handing out masks at churches and other public events — could save thousands of lives each day globally and hundreds each day in the United States.

While this may seem like common sense more than 18 months into the pandemic, early studies on masking had raised important questions. Mask mandates appeared to reduce Covid-19 cases, but was this because of masking, or because people in places with mask mandates would have become more careful even without them? Because of this uncertainty, some governments and public health agencies were hesitant to recommend them. That’s why we ran one of the largest and most sophisticated studies of mask wearing , using the “gold standard” of research design, a randomized controlled trial, to evaluate whether communities where more people wear masks have fewer cases of Covid-19.

Many people live in countries where vaccines are not yet widely available . Even in the United States, vaccines are available but used unevenly , and the weekly death rate from Covid-19 remains high. In both of these environments, masks are a critical and inexpensive tool in the fight against the coronavirus.

Our research , which is undergoing peer review, was conducted with 340,000 adults in 600 villages in Bangladesh and tested many different strategies to get people to wear masks.

Our research team settled on distributing masks directly to people’s homes and in crowded public places like mosques and markets. We provided information on why mask wearing was important, and involved religious and community leaders in that messaging. Finally, we had residents in each village politely ask anyone not wearing a mask to put one on, and give masks to whoever needed one.

While not everyone agreed to mask up, mask wearing increased by about 30 percentage points among the adults who were encouraged to do so. This change led to a 9 percent reduction in Covid-19 overall. In communities where we promoted surgical mask use, Covid-19 cases dropped by 11 percent.

Our study did not measure the effect of universal mask wearing but the effect of a voluntary mask program. It resulted in an increase to four in 10 people using a mask, from one in 10 people — a large rise in use but still far from perfect. If everyone wore masks, the reductions in Covid-19 cases would most likely have been substantially larger.

People over age 50 benefited most, especially in communities where we distributed surgical masks. In these communities, Covid-19 cases fell by 23 percent for people aged 50 to 60 and by 35 percent for people over age 60. Our study does not suggest that only older people need to wear masks, but rather that widespread community mask wearing reduces Covid-19 risk, especially for older people.

Let us put this in concrete terms. Our best estimate is that for every 600 people who wear surgical masks in public areas, an average of one death per year is prevented, given recent death rates in the United States. Think of a church with 600 members. If a congregation learned that it could save the life of a member, would everyone agree to wear surgical masks in indoor public areas for the next year?

We also tested the filtration of surgical masks that had been worn, crumpled up in pockets and purses, and washed with soap and water up to 10 times. These masks still prevented more virus particles from passing through than typical cloth masks. Masks with even better filtration or fit than surgical masks, such as KF94 or KN95 masks, may provide even stronger protection than surgical masks if worn properly.

The bottom line is masks work, and higher quality masks most likely work better at preventing Covid-19. If you have the ability to choose between a cloth and a surgical mask, go with surgical. But the best mask is one that a person will actually wear and wear correctly.

Mask wearing need not be permanent. More surgical masks in high-risk areas today can mean less need for masks tomorrow, preventing many deaths along the way. In places where mask mandates are not feasible or possible, softer alternatives — like a greeter handing out masks at a mall entrance — can be remarkably effective. Our research suggests that if handed a mask and asked politely to please wear one, many people will do so. Not everyone will, but not everyone needs to for lives to be saved.

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram .

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Coronavirus Guide

Yes, wearing masks helps. here's why.

Maria Godoy

A man in a mask walks past a mural on the side of a building in New York City in April. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

A man in a mask walks past a mural on the side of a building in New York City in April.

Mask wearing has become a topic of fierce debate in the United States.

People opposed to mask mandates have staged protests, and one local health official in Orange County, Calif., quit her job after receiving a death threat for a mask order. Not long after, California Gov. Gavin Newsom ordered Californians to wear face coverings in public.

Meanwhile in Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott recently allowed some counties to impose mask mandates on businesses, despite an earlier order forbidding penalties on individuals for not wearing masks.

While politicians spar over the topic, a growing number of scientific studies support the idea that masks are a critical tool in curbing the spread of the coronavirus.

Take, for example, a meta-analysis of 172 studies that looked at various interventions to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, SARS and MERS from an infected person to people close to them. The analysis, which was published in The Lancet on June 1, found that mask wearing significantly reduces the risk of viral transmission.

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Amc theatres will now require guests to wear masks when it reopens.

California Gov. Newsom Makes Face Masks Mandatory Amid Rising Coronavirus Cases

"What this evidence supports is that, if there is a policy around using face masks in place, it does actually come with a fairly large effect," says study co-author Holger Schünemann , an epidemiologist at McMaster University.

Now, most of the studies in the analysis looked at face mask use in health care, not community, settings. And they were observational, not the gold standard of science, a randomized controlled trial, which would be "very unethical in a pandemic," says Jeffrey Shaman , an epidemiologist at Columbia University. Still, he says the fact that there is a benefit from masks is clear.

"I personally think that face masks are a key component of the non-pharmaceutical arsenal we have to combat COVID-19," says Shaman.

It's understandable if some people remain skeptical, since, at the beginning of the pandemic, public health officials in the U.S. said the general public didn't need masks. But that changed as it became clear that infected people can spread the coronavirus before they even show symptoms of COVID-19 or even if they never show symptoms.

Researchers emphasize there are two main reasons to wear masks. There's some evidence of protection for the wearer, but the stronger evidence is that masks protect others from catching an infection from the person wearing the mask. And infected people can spread the virus just by talking.

"If you're talking, when things are coming out of your mouth, they're coming out fast," says Linsey Marr , a researcher at Virginia Tech who studies the airborne transmission of viruses. "They're going to slam into the cloth mask. I think even a low-quality mask can block a lot of those droplets."

Marr points to a study published in Nature Medicine in April that looked at people infected with the flu and seasonal coronaviruses. It found that even loose-fitting surgical masks blocked almost all the contagious droplets the wearers breathed out and even also some infectious aerosols — tiny particles that can linger in the air.

Other recent studies offer indirect evidence for universal mask use, even if worn by people who are feeling healthy. One study, published in late May in BMJ Global Health , looked at people in households in Beijing where one person was confirmed to have COVID-19. At the time, explains study co-author Raina MacIntyre , research was already showing that the majority of transmission of the virus was happening inside households, and China already had a culture of mask wearing. The study found that in households where everyone was wearing a face mask indoors as a precaution before they knew anyone who lived there was sick, the risk of transmission was cut by 79%.

"The more people that were wearing a mask, the more protective it was," says MacIntyre, head of the biosecurity program at the Kirby Institute at the University of New South Wales in Australia. In other words, when everyone wore a mask, it protected the whole household.

Another study, published in late May in the journal Cell , suggests that the coronavirus may first establish itself in the nasal cavity, before sometimes moving down to the lungs to cause more serious damage. If that's the case, the authors conclude, the findings "argue for the widespread use of masks" to prevent the virus from exiting an infected nose or entering an uninfected one.

And a modeling study, published this month in Proceedings of the Royal Society A , concluded that if the majority of a population wore face masks in public — even just homemade ones — that this could dramatically reduce transmission of the virus and help prevent future waves of the pandemic. (Remember, we're still in the first wave in the U.S.)

N95 particulate respirator masks (left) block at least 95% of small airborne particulates in the air. However, they are still in short supply and should be reserved for medical workers. Surgical face masks (right) are most effective at protecting others from the wearer's droplets. Avilash Cramer hide caption

N95 particulate respirator masks (left) block at least 95% of small airborne particulates in the air. However, they are still in short supply and should be reserved for medical workers. Surgical face masks (right) are most effective at protecting others from the wearer's droplets.

Researchers will tell you that masks won't provide full protection. And teasing out the science of masks will take time. But Marr says there's enough evidence already to say that, combined with measures like social distancing, masks really do help.

"From what I've seen, I would be comfortable sending my kids back to school if everyone's wearing masks and they're staying as far apart as possible," Marr says.

Of course, how much protection a mask provides — both to the wearers and to the people around them — depends on the type of mask and whether you are wearing it properly. (Note: It has to cover your nose as well as your mouth.) N95 respirators are designed to fit tightly around the nose and mouth so that the air you breathe has to go through the mask; when worn correctly, they block at least 95% of small airborne particles. N95 masks protect both the wearer and other people, but they're still in short supply and should be reserved for health care workers and emergency responders.

Surgical masks are designed to protect people from the wearer. Because they fit loosely, the wearer can still breathe in unfiltered air from the sides. Even so, surgical masks provide some benefit to the wearer as well: Laboratory testing has found that surgical masks block out 75% of respiratory-droplet-size particles.

Avoid masks with a valve in the front. That valve lets unfiltered air out, so it won't protect other people if you're contagious. And after all, protecting others is one of the main reasons to wear a mask in the first place.

As for cloth masks, the protection depends on what they're made out of and how well they fit. But with the right combination of materials, you can create a cloth mask that offers protection to the wearer in the 30% to 50% range or more , says May Chu, an epidemiologist at the Colorado School of Public Health who co-authored a paper published on June 2 in Nano Letters on the filtration efficiency of household mask materials. That's far from full protection, but combined with social distancing and hand-washing, she says, it's certainly better than nothing.

"I think we need a combination of [masks,] distancing, avoiding crowds, avoiding poorly ventilated spaces," says Marr. Even if each of those individual measures is only partially effective, she says, "by the time you add them all on top of each other, you can achieve better numbers for reduction of transmission."

This month, the real world provided anecdotal evidence to back that assessment: The head of the local health department in Springfield, Mo., reported that after two hair stylists tested positive for the coronavirus, none of the 140 clients and six co-workers potentially exposed came down with COVID-19. As The Washington Post reports , officials said the two hair stylists wore cloth masks. According to a statement from the health department in Springfield, the salon also had other policies in place, such as distancing salon chairs and staggering appointments.

Corrections June 21, 2020

An earlier version of this story mistakenly said the Cell study was published last week; it was published in late May. And an earlier version incorrectly said the study from Proceedings of the Royal Society A was published last week; it was published earlier in June. And BMJ Global Health was misstated as BMJ .

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Essay on Importance of Wearing a Mask for COVID-19 Virus

Currently, the world is experiencing the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Coronavirus is a deadly respiratory illness that causes fever, general weakness, and shortness of breath. This new virus spreads quickly through droplet particles released into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. When a healthy person gets into contact with such particles, they are bound to get infected. However, the widespread of the virus can be reduced with the use of masks. Using face masks prevents the coronavirus particles from spreading even when an infected person coughs (Haleem et al. 78). Wearing masks is a crucial preventative strategy as it reduces the further spread of the COVID-19 virus.

Masks are a vital measure to save lives and suppress the transmission of coronavirus. Masks act as a barrier to block the virus-containing particles from escaping from an infected individual and landing on a healthy person. A research by Florida Atlantic University demonstrates the effectiveness of covering the face stating that the number of droplets dispersed in the air can be decreased and the distance they travel (Kenyon 23). Coronavirus droplets can travel more than 8 feet without a mask. The study notes that a bandanna reduces the distance to 3 feet, 7 inches, and the distance is further decreased to more than 1 foot 3 inches with a folded handkerchief placed over the nose and mouth. As such it is indisputable that even a cloth face-covering substantially reduces the speed at which coronavirus is spread from person to person.

Wearing a face mask is crucial as a person may not realize that they are contagious. Initially, masks were only recommended for people that had already contracted the virus. However, the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention later stretched its guidelines advising every person to wear a cloth face-covering in public (Smyth 54). Such an advocate was after realizing that people can transmit the virus before they even begin to show the symptoms and some people could have been asymptomatic. A recent finding indicates that 40% of the population infected with coronavirus never portray the COVID-19 symptoms. As a result, making it extremely challenging to establish potential transmitters of the virus (Haleem 84). That is why regardless of whether a person is healthy or not, wearing a mask is highly recommended by several organizations such as the World Health Organisation and the Centre for Disease Control.

Findings from Ford, et al. (49) reveal that the person wearing a mask is protected from the coronavirus; however, the protective perks are more noticeable when every person in society covers their nose and mouth. The more people block the spread of coronavirus by wearing masks, the less virus there is circulating in public. In agreement, Kenyon (25) posits that the power of widespread community use of masks is immense. For instance, a report published World Health Organisation indicates that states with face mask directives have a higher reduction in the regular COVID-19 spread rates than states that do not have such mandates issued. The report indicates that an estimated 450,000 coronavirus cases in the United States have been prevented from the mask policies (Haleem et al. 89). Similarly, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington postulates that more than 34, 000 people can be saved from the COVID-19 infection in the near months once people adhere to wearing masks. With evidence from such findings it is clear that wearing masks reduces the transmission of coronavirus. When people wear the masks correctly, covering the mouth and nose, the coronavirus droplets are contained from spreading to another person when closer than the six-foot social distance.

Most importantly, wearing masks can lead to the recovery of the economy. Recent findings from Ford et al. (66) reveal that directives of a national face mask can act as an alternative for lockdowns. The increase in coronavirus cases has caused some countries to re-consider the re-opening of businesses with the fear of the virus spreading fast to cause more lockdowns, yet this is damaging for the economy. Lockdown slows business growth as physical operations are reduced and leads to the unemployment of several people, thus reducing the circulation of money in the economy (Smyth 63). However, the widespread incorporation of masks can significantly reduce the rate at which the virus spreads, thus preventing the need for lockdowns. Besides, without lockdowns, businesses can operate normally, thus avoiding the possible decline of the economy.

In summary, coronavirus is a deadly disease that has cost many people’s lives across the globe. The virus spreads quickly through the droplet particles released into the air when an infected person sneezes, coughs, or talks. Several measures have been incorporated to reduce the spread of the virus, and face masks are no exception. Once people adapt to the use of masks, the virus is contained and prevented from spreading. Aside from that, some people do not show symptoms of the coronavirus. In such cases, every person is obligated to wear masks since they may not be aware that they are sick and in a position to spread the virus to other people in society. The face mask protects not only the person wearing it but also the people in the surrounding.

Works Cited

Ford, N., et al. “Mask Use in Community Settings in the Context of COVID-19: A Systematic Review of Ecological Data.”  SSRN Electronic Journal , 2021. Retrieved from  https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857/tab-article-info

Haleem, Abid, Mohd Javaid, and Raju Vaishya. “Effects of COVID-19 pandemic in daily life.”  Current medicine research and practice  10.2 (2020): 78.

Kenyon, Chris. “Widespread use of face masks in public may slow the spread of SARS CoV-2: an ecological study.” 2020. Retrieved from https://pesquisa.bvsalud.org/global-literature-on-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/resource/pt/ppmedrxiv-20048652

Smyth, Beatrice. “Review of “The impact and effectiveness of the general public wearing masks to reduce the spread of pandemics in the UK: a multidisciplinary comparison of single-use masks versus reusable face masks.”.” 2021. Retrieved from https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857/tab-article-info

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• Published: 12 August 2020

Face masks: benefits and risks during the COVID-19 crisis

• Christiane Matuschek 1   na1 ,
• Friedrich Moll 2   na1 ,
• Heiner Fangerau 2 ,
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• Kurt Zänker 4 ,
• Martijn van Griensven   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5104-9881 5 ,
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European Journal of Medical Research volume  25 , Article number:  32 ( 2020 ) Cite this article

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The German government has made it mandatory to wear respiratory masks covering mouth and nose (MNC) as an effective strategy to fight SARS-CoV-2 infections. In many countries, this directive has been extended on shopping malls or public transportation. The aim of this paper is to critically analyze the statutory regulation to wear protective masks during the COVID-19 crisis from a medical standpoint.

We performed an extensive query of the most recent publications addressing the prevention of viral infections including the use of face masks in the community as a method to prevent the spread of the infection. We addressed the issues of practicability, professional use, and acceptability based on the community and the environment where the user resided.

Upon our critical review of the available literature, we found only weak evidence for wearing a face mask as an efficient hygienic tool to prevent the spread of a viral infection. However, the use of MNC seems to be linked to relevant protection during close contact scenarios by limiting pathogen-containing aerosol and liquid droplet dissemination. Importantly, we found evidence for significant respiratory compromise in patients with severe obstructive pulmonary disease, secondary to the development of hypercapnia. This could also happen in patients with lung infections, with or without SARS-CoV-2.

Epidemiologists currently emphasize that wearing MNC will effectively interrupt airborne infections in the community. The government and the politicians have followed these recommendations and used them to both advise and, in some cases, mandate the general population to wear MNC in public locations. Overall, the results seem to suggest that there are some clinically relevant scenarios where the use of MNC necessitates more defined recommendations. Our critical evaluation of the literature both highlights the protective effects of certain types of face masks in defined risk groups, and emphasizes their potential risks.

Introduction

The knowledge that the use of face masks delays the SARS-CoV-2 transmission is rapidly gaining popularity in the general population. Politicians need guidance on how masks should be used by the public to fight the COVID-19 pandemic crisis. In this review, we summarize the relevant literature on this topic.

“The surgical face mask has become a symbol of our times.”

On March 17th, 2020, this was the headline of an article in the New York Times on the role of face masks during the COVID-19 outbreak. Face masks have become a clothing accessory that is worn every day and everywhere. A variety of shapes, forms, and materials are being used and advertised to the point that in 2020 the business of producing and selling face masks was born.

In Germany, the government has ruled that wearing a face mask is obligatory to protect the population from any risks of airborne illness, according to the constitutional law [ 1 ] stating that “Protection must be easily provided to every citizen in the country.”

The aim of this paper is to analyze and critically discuss the regulations of some Federal States in Germany, which require protective masks in public to conform to similar regulations already in place in other countries.

Most masks covering the mouth are named mouth nose covering (MNC) according to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI; the German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention) and do not protect against respiratory and airborne infections. In the following review, the term “protective masks” will be used to describe any type of face mask.

Face masks protecting from infections

Respiratory masks (RM) are protective devices covering a part of the face. They are designed to protect both the person who wears them and the immediate environment from breathable pollutants (respiratory poisons or bacterial/viral pathogenic organisms). Different masks can be classified as I) full masks (normed following EN 136) and II) half and quarter masks (EN 140) (Figs.  1 , 2 , 3 and 4 ). While a full mask covers the whole face, a half - mask fits from under the chin to above the nose, a quarter mask fits from the top of the nose to the top of the chin. The breathing resistance varies proportionally to the density of the mask material.

FFP ( filtering face piece) mask without valve

FFP ( filtering face piece) mask with valve

Homemade face mask for everyday use

Surgical mask (MNP)

FFP masks ( filtering face piece) are classified as half masks . Their use is required to prevent the entry of pathogens through the airway and have the role of protecting both the wearer and the surrounding people. They are different from medical MNC, (often referred to as “surgical masks”), and from “self-made” masks for everyday use. MNCs and self-made masks are not “leak-proof” and do not provide complete respiratory protection since air can escape through them. FFP masks come without (Fig. 1 ) or with (Fig. 2 ) a valve. FFP (filtering face piece) masks with valves provide an air flow from the inside to the outside of the mask. FFP 1 masks are dust masks and mainly used for this purpose. They do not prevent COVID-19 infections. FFP1 masks are suitable for work environments in which only non-toxic dusts are found. FFP2 masks are suitable for work environments where there are pathogens and mutagens in the air composition.

In the context of SARS-CoV-2 the following types of masks are available (WHO, 2020):

Masks for everyday use (temporary masks made from fabric, etc.; Fig.  3 ): These masks grant no protection for the user from being infected. However, it is safe to assume there is a small risk reduction for droplet transmission, especially during exhalation, resulting in a reduction of potential viral spread. These masks should not be used in the health care system, but are commonly recommended for the general population for walking, shopping, or using public transportation.

MNP (= medical mouth–nose protection; Fig.  4 ): often referred to as a “surgical mask”. The industrial production of MNP abides to strict rules to provide protections against infection. The filtering capability is like the one for everyday use masks and they are intended to protect patients. They are approved for medical staff use, warrantying only patient-protection, specifically aimed against aerosols.

FFP2-mask (= face filtering piece)/N95-mask: FFP2-masks fulfil a set of stricter protective norms. They protect the person wearing them, as > 95% of particles and droplets are held back when inhaling. FFP2-masks also effectively protect the environment as long as there is no exhaling valve. In contrast, masks with an exhaling valve let exhaled air pass out unfiltered, with contamination of the immediate environment.

FFP3-mask: FFP3-masks protect the user even more effectively than FFP2, as > 99% of droplets and particles are filtered when inhaling. FFP3-masks also protect the environment in the absence of an exhaling valve.

A full face mask in a level-3 biosafety lab is shown in Fig.  5 .

Full face mask in a level-3 biosafety lab (source: Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Face_masks_during_the_COVID-19_pandemic )

The WHO states that the declared protective effect of these masks recommended during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can be severely reduced by their inappropriate use, such as improper donning or doffing, insufficient maintenance, long or repeated use of disposable masks, no dry cleaning of fabric masks, or using masks made of non-protective material [ 2 ].

During an epidemic/pandemic crisis every possible risk reduction strategy is useful. It is likely that the risk of infection and its severity depends on the viral load entering the body. This was the rationale for the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) to recommend the use of masks starting from March 2020. Specifically, they looked at the availability of the resources and tailored the supply to the risk of infection. Healthcare workers were considered essential workers at high risk of infection, therefore prioritized to the use of FFP2/3 masks, while MNC or masks for everyday use were to be made available for the general population.

Current decree on wearing a mouth and nose covering

Due to the German Federalism, the Federal Minister of Health can only make health recommendations, which are then reinforced by the Infection Protection Act of the different Federal States. In the current situation of a pandemic crisis, nearly all measures are taken to prevent an exponential increase of new SARS-CoV-2 infections.

As of June 1st, 2020, the Netherlands considers the public use of protective masks unnecessary. This is based on the assumption that SARS-CoV-2 is only transmitted as a droplet infection via the nasopharynx pathway, which mostly occurs during coughing or sneezing. These droplets do not stay in the air, but rather drop to the ground within a 1.5 m radius if larger than 5 µm [ 3 ]. It has been postulated that for SARS-CoV-2—in contrast to other respiratory-driven infections—the droplets in the aerosols are of little relevance for a COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, securing a 1.5-m social distance is assumed to be an essential and sufficient preventive measure. However, recent data published in 2020 using high-speed cameras show that small droplets of saliva and mucus can fly up to 8 m [ 4 ], requiring critical reconsideration of the above-mentioned assumption.

We conducted a Medline survey to scientifically justify this approach with the key words SARS-CoV-2, face masks, COVID-19, pandemic.

Leung and colleagues [ 5 ] screened more than 3000 individuals and identified 123 patients suffering from a viral respiratory infection. The viral load in the exhaled aerosol and droplets were different depending on the etiology of the infection, but was exponentially reduced by wearing surgical masks (cat. no. 62356, Kimberly-Clark). More viral particles were released through coughing. Generally, the authors reported a notably higher viral load in nose swabs compared to throat swabs. This data applied to influenza, corona, and rhino virus. No data are available for SARS-CoV-2 yet.

In general, droplets, and hence SARS-CoV-2, can be transferred via direct contact or smear transfection modality when the hands are contaminated from touching the nose or the face and then come in direct contact with others, e.g. by handshaking. For this reason, not only the “ cough etiquette ”, but regular and thorough handwashing are a significant and mandatory hygienic rule (6).

As a result of scientific data combined with daily routine, the RIVM (Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu, the Dutch equivalent of the RKI) has mandated to wear masks while using public transportation, due to the inability of maintaining enough protective distance, especially when riding during rush hour. This rule does not apply to other public spaces yet.

Summarizing the arguments in favour of wearing a mask

Wearing a mask in areas where sufficient distance is not feasible, such as public transportation, most likely reduces the spread of virus-loaded droplets and therefore the risk of transferring SARS-CoV-2.

It is indisputable that infected patients can transfer SARS-CoV-2 to other people, starting few days before manifesting clinical symptoms or during the incubation period. However, there is no reliable data concerning the amount of virus particles that can be spread by an asymptomatic person, when keeping a minimum safe distance.

Main arguments against wearing a mask

If there is a limited supply of protective masks, they should be reserved for health care workers in hospitals and care facilities. This applies for surgical masks and for FFP2 and FFP3 masks.

Masks give a false sense of security. The main role of MNC is the protection of people standing nearby. MNC do not protect the wearer.

It is essential to wear the mask correctly. It must fit airtight to the skin, otherwise its effect is lost. Doffing of the mask needs to be properly done as well. The outside of the mask should not be touched. When supply is not an issue, surgical masks should be used only once.

The lack of nonverbal communication when wearing a mask may make people feel insecure, disheartened or even psychologically troubled. This may be particularly true for people suffering from mental illness or hearing impairment.

Breathing dampens the mask. If there is excessive moisture, the masks become airtight. Therefore, air is inhaled and exhaled unfiltered around the edges, losing the protective effect for both the wearer and the environment.

If masks are not exchanged regularly (or washed properly when made of cloth), pathogens can accumulate in the mask. When improperly used, the risk of spreading the pathogen—including SARS-CoV-2—might be critically increased.

Protective masks in context of rivalling concerns

In Germany, the COVID-19 pandemic has been more contained than in other European countries or even worldwide. However, we are not immune to this infection. It is imperative to implement any measure to control the spread of the infection, or at least the speed of diffusion to the population. It is important to make sure that the German health care system does not deplete its resources. Theoretically, we are affected by the scarcity of mask supply like other nations or countries. People who risk their health and even their lives need to be protected. There should be a fine balance when suggesting preventive measures, since reinforcing them indiscriminately may contribute to psychological discomfort, acts of violence, and financial strain.

Available data

The summarized studies examine different types of masks focussing on FFP/N-95 masks. As expected, there are no scientific studies on economic and social consequences of wearing masks (Table  1 ).

In the following, the most important results are summarized.

Study 1—PPE

Chia et al. (2005) [ 6 ] used a questionnaire to analyze the perception of doctors, nurses and other personnel on the role of PPE (= personal protective equipment) during the SARS-outbreak in Singapore over a period of 2 months in 2003. In summary, 32.5% of doctors, 48.7% of nurses and 77% of the administrative personnel thought that a simple MNP would be sufficient to prevent the SARS-infection. It was evident that even qualified staff did not have sufficient knowledge on the protective properties of face masks during a pandemic. This study highlights the importance of adequate communication, education and exchange of information in a timely fashion.

Study 2—MNP masks

Lipp et al. (2005) [ 7 ] investigated the pattern of use and the protective effects of masks on wound infections using a questionnaire in two randomized studies. While the use of MNP was statistically beneficial in a smaller study (n = 200), the same recommendations were not valid when a larger cohort (n = 1250) was studied.

Study 3—MNP vs. N95 valve masks

Li (2008) [ 8 ]: this study compared the protective effects of simple MNP with two different N95 masks with different valve systems. In contrast to the commonly available masks, this model had valves placed on the sides and was studied in an experimental setting with artificial droplets. All masks blocked the inside transmission of droplets from the front. The effectiveness of the regular MNP mask was only 95–97% when compared to the N95, which had a protective effect of 99%. Thus, N95 masks offer considerably better protection from influenza and SARS virus infections when compared to other mask types.

Study 4—masks for everyday use

Rengasamy (2010) [ 9 ]: the protective effect of masks for everyday use made from different materials was tested against 20–1.000 nm particles with different velocities and compared to N95 masks. This study found marginal protective effects against exhaled particles. Specifically, depending on the material and dampness, 40–90% of aerosols were able to penetrate through these masks.

Study 5—N95 vs. MNP

Smith et al. (2016) [ 10 ] analyzed all the available literature from 1990 to 2014, including 3 randomized controlled studies, one cohort study and 2 case–control studies comparing MNP vs N95 masks. Their meta-analyzis assessed: (a) the laboratory-proven infection rate, (b) influenza-related infections, and (c) work absence secondary to illness in employees. Their results indicated that the overall calculated risk assessment is not considerably improved using more sophisticated N95 masks.

Study 6—N95

Zhou and colleagues (2018) [ 11 ] examined the role of various features on N95 masks, including valves for a more comfortable breathing, on the rate of infection. The endpoint was the retention of small particles of around 2.5 µm. The results revealed that the protective effect was sufficient against the examined viruses including influenza and rhinovirus.

Study 7—masks for everyday use

Konda et al. (2020) [ 12 ] investigated the use of different materials on the effective filtration capabilities of masks for everyday use. They demonstrated that a combination of different materials such as cotton and silk, can be more effective than one material alone. Moreover, they revealed that densely woven cotton provides significantly more protection than cotton with looser weaves. A proper fit is particularly important to avoid leakage. The authors recommended the use of cotton masks that have a high protective effect and only little restriction when breathing.

Study 8—meta-analysis comparing PPE partial vs. complete protection

Verbeek (2020) [ 13 ]: a recent meta-analysis investigating PPE (personal protection equipment) masks looked at 24 studies with a total of 2.278 participants. Fourteen studies were randomized, one was quasi-randomized and nine had no study design with randomization. Eight studies compared different PPE even though personal protective equipment included more than the mask. Six studies evaluated the quality of the protective equipment. 75% of these studies used a simulated exposure with fluorescent markers tagged on harmless microbes. They concluded that protecting the whole body is not superior to protecting different parts separately. Furthermore, proper donning and doffing protocols were more beneficial in preventing the spread of the disease. Both steps require proper training to be effective.

Conclusion of the studies

Currently, most of the literature available on this topic is from experimental investigations. As expected, all the studies demonstrated an increase in protective effects in the following order: masks for everyday use–MNP–N95/FFP–PPE. Masks for everyday use can have a small protective effect for the wearer. MNP offers a greater protective effect since it was originally designed to decrease droplet elimination, therefore protecting the user’s surroundings. Unfortunately, due to ethical reasons, there is a lack of randomized controlled studies on the protective role of masks in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections when compared to a control group with no masks. Since the Netherlands lack of a law to wear protection masks in public except for public transport since May 2020, it could serve as the control in future studies that compare the infection rates of different countries with different approaches to tackling the pandemic.

In 2016, Smith et al. [ 10 ] concluded that possible advantages of wearing a mask were difficult to apply to the social “day-to-day” situation. Konda et al. (12) highlighted the inability to discriminate between the protective effects of the mask on the environment, when worn by an infected person, versus the general protective effect within a given population. This would not have a significant health benefit if only a small percentage of individuals were infected. Only a study done in infected people with and without masks would allow a clear conclusion on the role of masks on the spread of the infection. Finally, a lesson learnt from the COVID pandemic shows significant educational gaps and lack of basic training that need to be addressed. The state should guarantee mask supply for everyone and educate on the proper use. Mass means of communication could be used for this purpose. A commercial broadcast before the daily news about the correct donning and doffing of the mouth and nose protection and its disinfection could reach a vast audience. In addition to public law, private and digital media, as well as healthcare providers such as doctors, pharmacists and nursing staff could also play an important role in education.

Consequences of the use of protective masks on the wearer—pathophysiologic considerations

Wearing a mask has its own advantages and indisputable protective effects against infections. However, there are also potential risks and side effects that require attention. This specifically applies to the use in the general population.

From a medical standpoint, there is a theoretical possibility of an airflow obstruction when wearing a mask. A subjective feeling of strained breathing rarely occurs when wearing surgical masks. When wearing very dense masks without valves (N95/FFP2-3), breathing occurs against an air flow resistance. Theoretically, an increase in work of breathing can occur, especially during physical exertion.

Depending on the design, masks can increase the lung’s dead space. In extreme cases, carbon dioxide retention (hypercapnia) can occur with side effects. Only few investigations are available and addressing this medical problem. The available literature examined different types of N95 masks in the industrial setting in detail [ 14 , 15 , 16 ], and found relevant effects on the wearer. In this context, Kim et al. [ 17 ] studied the role of N95 masks on lung function and heart rate during low-to-moderate exercise/physical work load. Only healthy subjects seem to tolerate wearing such a mask. Studies conducted on employees in advanced stages of pregnancy showed a good tolerance for masks. The results of this study, even though specific to this population, are valuable for the daily use of MNP as a general mean of protection [ 18 ]. Finally, the role of N95/FFP-2 masks was tested in 97 patients with advanced COPD while undergoing a 6-min walk test. Seven patients did not tolerate the test and stopped prematurely. The respiratory rate, oxygen saturation and CO 2 levels changed significantly while wearing N95/FFP2 masks. These results demonstrated the potential risks of wearing this type of mask in the presence of advanced COPD [ 19 ]. Their use should be recommended with caution in this patient population, a questionably relevant recommendation, since the use of these masks is limited to health care workers in direct contact with COVID patients. Finally, people with hearing impairment rely on lip reading to understand others. This is not possible when wearing a mask.

Measures to prevent infections are necessary in the current pandemic. Face masks have been considered a first step to prevent and contain the spread of the disease. Different types of masks are available on the market for this purpose.

Simple masks covering mouth and nose are primarily used to prevent transmission by holding back droplets. This is useful when the recommended minimum distance of 1.5 m is not feasible. The masks provide only limited self-protection for its wearer and this is only when they are used properly.

High-quality FFP2/3 masks are a more reliable protection from infections. They should always be available for medical staff and people at risk. When used by the general population, specific groups at risk for complications related to the mask use should be educated on what to expect. For example, patients with severe COPD can experience a deterioration of their respiratory parameters. Therefore, patients must be individually educated by their general practitioner about the risk of wearing MNC.

Finally, it is imperative that the user is educated on the different types of masks available, how and when to wear them and, above all, how to handle them correctly, similar to the safety instructions given before take off in an aircraft.

Our results are consistent with the ones recently reported by Chu et al. in Lancet [ 20 ]. These publications will help guide the decisions of politicians and caregivers on when and where to use the available tools to fight a viral pandemic.

Availability of data and materials

All data and materials can be accessed via CM and FM.

Abbreviations

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Coronavirus disease 2019

European normalization

Filtering face piece

Masks covering mouth and nose

Medical mouth–nose protection

Masks filtering > 95% of particles and droplets

Personal protective equipment

Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu the Dutch federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention

Robert Koch Institute the German federal government agency and research institute responsible for disease control and prevention

Respiratory masks

Severe acute respiratory syndrome

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2

World Health Organization

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Miriam Barnett and Harsha Swamy (Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA) for their critical examination of the manuscript.

This work is dedicated to Hans Jürgen Peiper, former president of the German Society of Surgery (1987).

Source: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans-Jürgen_Peiper

There was no funding for this investigation.

Author information

Christiane Matuschek and Friedrich Moll are both considered as first authors

Authors and Affiliations

Department of Radiation Oncology, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Christiane Matuschek, Balint Tamaskovics, Freddy Joel Djiepmo-Njanang, Wilfried Budach, Kitti Maas, Edwin Bölke & Jan Haussmann

Department of the History, Philosophy and Ethics of Medicine, Heinrich Heine University, Medical Faculty, Dusseldorf, Germany

Friedrich Moll & Heiner Fangerau

Institute for Transplant Diagnostics and Cell Therapeutics, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Johannes C. Fischer

Center for Biomedical Education and Research (ZBAF), University Witten/Herdecke, Witten, Germany

Kurt Zänker

Department cBITE, MERLN Institute for Technology-Inspired Regenerative Medicine, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands

Martijn van Griensven

Department of Experimental Anesthesiology, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany

Marion Schneider

Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Detlef Kindgen-Milles

Department for General Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Wolfram Trudo Knoefel

Department for Cardiac Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Artur Lichtenberg

Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany

Stefanie Corradini

Department of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Infectious Diseases, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Dieter Häussinger, Torsten Feldt & Björn Jensen

Institute for Applied Statistics, Munich, Germany

Rainer Pelka

University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany

Heinrich-Heine-University, Dusseldorf, Germany

Matthias Peiper & Peter Arne Gerber

Department for Cardiology, Rhythmology and Intensive Care Medicine, Evangelic Hospital, Dusseldorf, Germany

Department of Anesthesiology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA

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Contributions

CM, FM, HF, JCF, KZ, MvG, MS, DKM, WTK, AL, BT, FDN, WB, SC, DH, TF, BJ, RP, KO, MP, OG, KM, EB, AP and JH wrote parts of the manuscript. FM and HF did the literature research and prepared the data for analysis. CM, FM, EB and JH contributed significantly to the discussion on the interpretation of the results. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Edwin Bölke .

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Matuschek, C., Moll, F., Fangerau, H. et al. Face masks: benefits and risks during the COVID-19 crisis. Eur J Med Res 25 , 32 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40001-020-00430-5

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The Great Face Mask Debate: To Wear or Not to Wear?

Related articles.

Would the widespread wearing of face masks decrease the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19? Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut right or wrong answer to the raging face mask debate. If there is any benefit, it probably lies in protecting the public from a potentially infected wearer rather than the wearer from a potentially infected public.

By Alex Berezow, PhD; Josh Bloom, PhD; Chuck Dinerstein, MD, MBA; and Thom Golab

The conventional wisdom regarding COVID-19 changes every other week.

Up until this point, the general consensus among the scientific and medical communities was that healthy people should not be wearing face masks unless they are directly caring for an infected person. But now, a growing chorus proclaims that everybody should be wearing masks, just like the citizens of many Asian countries. This confusion can be shown in just two headlines from the past 24 hours:

CNN : WHO stands by recommendation to not wear masks if you are not sick or not caring for someone who is sick

Wired : It's Time to Face Facts, America: Masks Work

So, what's the truth? Unfortunately, there is no clear-cut right or wrong answer, and we are forced to conclude with an indecisive "maybe."**

Before we go further, however, we must first describe what we mean by a "mask." We are talking about surgical masks, those that cover the mouth and nose but are neither tightly fitted nor occlusive, meaning that a person can breathe air through and around the mask. N95 masks are specialized masks, and any diversion of supplies or manufacturing capability to a civilian population who can protect themselves currently by staying at home is unwarranted until those supply chains are secure and adequately stocked.

The pros and cons of the widespread wearing of face masks are described below in a series of points and counterpoints.

Point : Because the novel coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2) is a respiratory virus, it almost certainly spreads via respiratory droplets. Masks can help catch the larger droplets as a person exhales. A mask may also prevent indirect transmission, for example by preventing the wearer from touching his face.

Counterpoint : Once the virus is aerosolized, a mask's effectiveness decreases. While a mask may help prevent an infected person from expelling the virus, it may not help a healthy person from inhaling an already aerosolized virus. Also, a mask does not cover a person's eyes.

Point : Masks serve as a reminder to engage in proper hygienic behavior and social distancing. Combined, these behaviors can reduce transmission of the coronavirus.

Counterpoint : A mask might give the wearer a false sense of security. A person who wears a mask but fails to wash his hands, for instance, is still putting himself and others at risk.

Professional Opinions

Point : Doctors on the front line are demanding that more people wear masks. We should listen to them.

Counterpoint : The CDC and WHO both recommend against healthy people wearing masks (unless they are caring for someone who is sick). Besides, we do not have an unlimited supply of masks, and it's better for the doctors and nurses on the front line to have them.

C'mon, Masks Clearly Work

Point : Isn't it rather obvious? Some protection is better than no protection.

Counterpoint : Wearing masks in public is very common in many Asian cultures, yet they get seasonal influenza, just like everybody else.

Conclusions

No strong conclusions can be drawn. Maybe face masks would help, but maybe they won't. If there is any benefit, it probably lies in protecting the public from a potentially infected wearer rather than the wearer from a potentially infected public.

**Note: Dr. Chuck Dinerstein has written a follow-up article in which he suggests that the public wear face masks.

View the discussion thread.

By Alex Berezow, PhD

Former Vice President of Scientific Communications

Dr. Alex Berezow is a PhD microbiologist, science writer, and public speaker who specializes in the debunking of junk science for the American Council on Science and Health. He is also a member of the USA Today Board of Contributors and a featured speaker for The Insight Bureau . Formerly, he was the founding editor of RealClearScience.

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Argumentative Essay

Argumentative Essay About Wearing A Mask

Last updated on: Apr 9, 2024

Crafting an Argumentative Essay About Wearing a Mask: Examples and Tips

By: Barbara P.

10 min read

Reviewed By: Melisa C.

Published on: Mar 10, 2023

Many students find it challenging to write an argumentative essay about wearing masks. They are unsure of where to begin or how to present convincing arguments.

The lack of clarity and guidance surrounding this topic often leads to frustration and confusion.

In this blog, we aim to provide a practical solution by offering a comprehensive guide on writing an argumentative essay about wearing masks.

We will delve into compelling arguments both for and against mask-wearing. We will also equip you with examples and tips to construct a compelling argumentative essay on your own.

Let’s get started.

On this Page

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay presents both sides of an argument on a specific topic. It attempts to convince the reader to accept one point of view over another.

They often include evidence collected from research, personal experiences, opinions, statistics, and other sources of information. 

The goal is to present a convincing argument that encourages readers to agree with your point of view. 

In argumentative essays, it's important to make sure all your claims have evidence to back them up. This will help establish credibility and encourage readers to agree with the argument you're presenting.

Need help to make convincing arguments? Our argumentative essay guide has you covered!

Purpose of Writing an Argumentative Essay About Wearing a Mask

The purpose of writing an argumentative essay about wearing a mask goes beyond expressing personal preferences. 

Here are the key purposes behind writing such an essay:

• Public Health Advocacy

The primary purpose of writing such essays is to advocate for public health and emphasize the importance of mask-wearing as a preventive measure. 

It aims to educate and persuade readers about the potential benefits of wearing masks in mitigating the spread of infectious diseases.

• Evidence-Based Arguments

By conducting research and presenting evidence, the essay serves to build a strong case for mask-wearing. 

It involves analyzing accurate statistical data to demonstrate the effectiveness of masks and protecting both individuals and communities.

• Counteracting Misinformation

The essay aims to address and counteract misinformation or misconceptions surrounding mask-wearing. It provides a platform to debunk myths and present accurate information about the benefits and limitations of wearing masks.

• Promoting Responsible Behavior

Writing an argumentative essay about mask-wearing encourages responsible behavior among individuals. 

It highlights the collective responsibility to prioritize public health. It also emphasizes how wearing masks can contribute to the well-being of society as a whole. 

• Encouraging Critical Thinking

Writing such essays promotes critical thinking skills.  It requires evaluating different perspectives, analyzing conflicting evidence, and engaging in logical reasoning. 

By engaging in this process, we can develop our ability to think critically, and navigate complex public health issues.

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Best Arguments in Favor of Wearing a Mask

As the argument over whether or not to wear a face covering continues, it’s important to look at both sides of this argument.

Here, we will examine the arguments for why you should wear a mask during these unprecedented times. 

Let's analyze this argument in more detail.

Wearing a Mask Protects others Around You

When you wear a mask, you're not only protecting yourself, you’re also protecting those around you. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends wearing masks in public settings when social distancing isn't possible. 

If everyone in your area wears a mask, it can help reduce the spread of the virus. It is especially important for those who are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.

This includes older adults and people with certain underlying conditions like diabetes or heart disease. 

Wearing a Mask can Help Reduce Stress Levels

It's no secret that living through this pandemic has been stressful for many people. One way to reduce stress levels is by wearing a mask when out in public. 

Studies have shown that wearing masks can help reduce fear and anxiety associated with catching or spreading the virus. It can also help boost self-confidence when going out in public. 

As you know you’re doing something proactive to protect yourself and those around you.

Wearing a Mask is Quick and Easy

One of the great things about wearing a mask is that it doesn't take much time or effort to do it right. All you need is an appropriate face covering. 

Plus, there are plenty of fashionable masks available if you want something stylish!

Increases Compliance with Social Distancing Guidelines

Finally, one argument in favor of wearing masks is that it may increase compliance with social distancing guidelines. 

If everyone is wearing masks while out in public, then it'll be easier to remember to keep at least six feet away from other people at all times. 

Additionally, when everyone is covered up by masks, it'll discourage people from gathering together in large groups.

Best Arguments for not Wearing a Mask

While masks can help limit the transmission of the virus, there are some valid arguments against wearing them. 

Let’s explore why some people may choose not to wear a mask during the pandemic.

Argument #1: Wearing a Mask is Uncomfortable

The truth is that for some people, wearing a face mask can be uncomfortable or even downright unpleasant. Masks can cause skin irritation and discomfort, especially when worn for extended periods of time.

They also make it difficult to breathe in hot or humid climates, which can be dangerous in itself.

Argument #2: Not Enough Scientific Evidence

There have been studies showing that masks can reduce transmission of certain viruses, such as influenza. There is still no definitive proof that they are 100% effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. 

Without concrete evidence , some individuals may choose not to wear them at all times.

Argument #3: Civil Liberties/Rights Violation

Finally, some argue that wearing a face mask violates their civil liberties or rights as an individual. 

This argument is especially prevalent among those who feel like their rights are being violated by mandatory mask policies.

Argument #4: Masks Reduce Oxygen Intake 

One of the most common arguments against masks is that they can reduce oxygen intake. Masks can lead to health problems such as headaches, lightheadedness, and difficulty breathing. 

While masks do filter air entering your nose and mouth, it's important to note that they don't completely block oxygen. 

Argument #5: Masks Make People Fearful 

The final argument against mandatory mask-wearing is that it can make people fearful of getting sick or catching the virus from others. 

While this may be true for some people, it's important to remember that fear alone isn't enough to prevent the spread of disease!

Unlock the secrets of effective argumentative writing by viewing this video!

Arguments Against Wearing Masks in Schools

Some argue that masks are necessary to protect students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. Others argue that masks pose more risks than benefits. 

Let’s take a look at some of the arguments against masks in schools.

• Argument #1: Unnecessary Stress on Students 

One argument against making masks compulsory in schools is that it can cause unnecessary stress and anxiety among students. 

For younger children, the thought of having to wear a mask all day can be overwhelming and may even lead to behavioral problems. 

• Argument #2: Difficulty with Learning and Concentration

Another argument against mask-wearing is that it can make learning more difficult and impair concentration.

Additionally, being unable to see facial expressions clearly can impede communication between teachers and students. This will hindering the learning process even further. 

• Argument # 3: They Can Be an Unnecessary Expense

For families on tight budgets, buying enough masks for each person in the family every day could be an additional expense they cannot afford.

This could create an unfair financial burden on families who already struggle to make ends meet.

Writing an Argumentative Essay about Wearing Masks - 4 Easy Steps

Writing an argumentative essay about wearing masks can be simplified into four essential steps. 

Let's delve into each step:

Thorough Research

Begin by conducting thorough research on mask-wearing, including its benefits, effectiveness, and potential drawbacks. 

Explore scientific studies, reliable sources, and expert opinions to gather evidence that supports your viewpoint. Take note of key statistics, examples, and arguments that will strengthen your essay.

Introduction

Start your essay by grabbing the reader's attention with an engaging opening statement or a thought-provoking question. 

Clearly state your thesis statement, which should express your position on wearing masks. It should also provide a preview of the main arguments you will present in the body paragraphs.

Body Paragraphs

Develop the body of your essay by presenting well-structured paragraphs that support your thesis statement. 

Each body paragraph should focus on a single argument or point related to wearing masks. Start each paragraph with a topic sentence that introduces the main idea. 

Support your arguments with relevant evidence, such as research findings, expert opinions, or real-life examples. 

Consider addressing counterarguments and providing counterpoints to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the topic.

In the conclusion, restate your thesis statement and summarize the main points discussed in the body paragraphs. 

Emphasize the significance of wearing masks and the importance of your viewpoint.  Leave the reader with a lasting impression by providing a compelling final thought or a call to action. 

Avoid introducing new information in the conclusion; instead, reinforce the key arguments and solidify your position.

Discover how to create a compelling outline for your essay by examining our comprehensive argumentative essay outline blog.

Examples of Argumentative Essay About Wearing a Mask

As the argument over whether or not to wear a face covering continues, it’s important to look at both sides of this argument. 

Here, we have provided a few argumentative essay examples about wearing a mask in public settings. 

Explore how to craft an argument and provide evidence to back it up.

Argumentative essay about wearing face mask pdf

Why wearing a mask is important essay

The benefits of wearing a face mask in public

Why wearing a mask is still important

The Importance of Wearing a Mask

Persuasive speech about wearing mask

Argumentative essay about wearing a mask in school

Need some more inspiration to get started? Look no further than our blog of argumentative essay examples !

Tips To Write an Argumentative Essay about Wearing Masks

Writing an argumentative essay about wearing masks requires careful planning and execution to effectively convey your viewpoint. 

Here are some valuable tips to help you craft a compelling essay:

• Clearly Define Your Position

Start by clearly stating your stance on mask-wearing. Are you in favor of it or against it? Make sure your position is well-defined and reflected in your thesis statement. 

This will provide a clear direction for your essay and guide your arguments.

• Conduct Extensive Research

Gather reliable and up-to-date information about mask-wearing, including scientific studies, expert opinions, and relevant statistics. 

Understand the reasons behind mask mandates, the effectiveness of different types of masks, and their impact on public health. 

Well-researched arguments will enhance the credibility and strength of your essay.

• Present Strong Evidence

Use credible sources and compelling evidence to support your arguments. This can include scientific research, data from reputable health organizations, testimonies from experts, or real-life examples. 

Be sure to cite your sources properly to maintain academic integrity.

• Acknowledge Counterarguments

Address counterarguments to demonstrate your understanding of different perspectives. Anticipate opposing viewpoints and provide counterpoints to refute them. 

This shows that you have considered alternative positions and strengthens your own argument by demonstrating its superiority.

• Use Persuasive Language

Craft your essay using persuasive language and rhetorical techniques. Develop a convincing and authoritative tone. 

Use logical reasoning, emotional appeals, and ethical arguments to appeal to readers' intellect and emotions. 

However, ensure that your persuasive techniques remain grounded in factual information and reasoned analysis.

• Maintain Clarity and Cohesion

Make sure your essay is well-organized and coherent. Use clear and concise language to convey your ideas effectively. 

Avoid jargon or complex terminology that may confuse readers. Use transitional words and phrases to ensure smooth flow between paragraphs and ideas.

• Stay Objective and Respectful

While advocating for your position, maintain objectivity and respect for opposing views. Avoid personal attacks or derogatory language. 

Instead, focus on presenting logical arguments and reliable evidence to support your claims.

• Conclude with Impact

End your essay with a strong conclusion that summarizes your main points and reinforces your position. 

Leave readers with a lasting impression and a call to action, urging them to consider the importance of mask-wearing and the impact it can have on public health.

In conclusion, writing an argumentative essay about wearing masks requires careful research, thoughtful analysis, and persuasive writing skills. 

By following the tips outlined in this blog, you can effectively present your arguments and contribute to the ongoing discourse on this important topic.

If you do not know where to start, our argumentative essay writing service is always at your disposal.

We have an experienced argumentative essay writer who can help you craft the perfect argumentative essay on this topic. 

Our write my paper service offers limitless perks along with the best quality work.  

So, why wait? Place your order with our essay writer today!

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Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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Argumentative Essay Writing

Argumentative Essay About Wearing Mask

Ready, Set, Argue: Craft a Convincing Argumentative Essay About Wearing Mask

Published on: Mar 3, 2023

Last updated on: Jan 31, 2024

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Are you struggling to write an argumentative essay about wearing a mask?

Learning how to craft a compelling argumentative essay is not always easy, but it can be extremely rewarding.

In this blog post, we will explore the steps for writing an effective argument for why people should wear masks in public places.

This blog will help any student looking to add that edge of persuasion when crafting their argumentative essays on wearing a mask!

So without further ado, let’s begin!

On This Page On This Page -->

What Do We Mean By an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is a type of writing that presents an opinion or stance on a certain issue and supports it with evidence. 

In this case, the main goal is to convince your readers why wearing masks is important and why they should be required in certain situations.

To do this, your essay should contain evidence that supports your argument and clear explanations of why masks are beneficial. 

Purpose of Writing an Argumentative Essay About Wearing a Mask

The purpose of writing an argumentative essay about wearing a mask is to persuade your readers that masks are essential for protecting public health and safety. 

It's important to provide evidence-based facts and research in order to make your argument clear and convincing.

A Few Arguments For Wearing A Mask

When writing an argumentative essay about wearing a mask, it's important to provide evidence-based facts and research that support your opinion. 

The following are some of the key arguments for why masks should be worn: 

Masks Reduce The Spread Of Infectious Diseases, Including Covid-19

Masks can help prevent the spread of infectious diseases, including COVID-19. 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), wearing a mask is an important preventive measure against respiratory illnesses, such as flu and coronavirus. 

Check out this informative video about wearing masks!

Masks Protect The Wearer From Airborne Particles That May Contain Harmful Viruses And Bacteria. 

Masks provide a barrier against airborne particles, such as viruses and bacteria. 

When worn properly, they help filter out contaminants that may cause infections or illness if inhaled.  

This means that masks can help protect the wearer from potentially harmful viruses and bacteria. 

Wearing a Mask In Public Can Help Reduce Stress And Anxiety Associated 

Being around people who are not wearing masks can be stressful and anxiety-provoking. 

Wearing a mask in public is an important way to show that you care about protecting yourself and those around you, which can help reduce stress levels. 

Additionally, by wearing a mask, you can help create a safer environment for everyone in the community, especially during the covid-19 pandemic.

Best Arguments For Not Wearing A Mask

The following are some of the key arguments for why masks should not be worn: 

Wearing A Mask May Cause Physical Discomfort 

Some people experience physical discomfort while wearing a mask, such as headaches or breathing difficulties. 

Masks Are Not 100% Effective At Preventing The Spread Of Viruses 

It's important to remember that masks are not 100% effective at preventing the spread of a virus. 

While masks can help reduce the risk, other measures such as social distancing should also be taken to minimize the risk.

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Wearing A Mask May Give People A False Sense Of Security 

Some people may mistakenly believe that wearing a mask alone is enough to protect them from contracting a virus, but this is not the case. 

It's important to remember that masks should be used in combination with other preventive measures, such as social distancing and frequent handwashing.  

Arguments Against Masks In Schools

When writing an argumentative essay about wearing a mask in schools, it's important to look at the potential arguments against masks. 

The following are some of the key arguments against masks in schools: 

Wearing A Mask Can Be Disruptive And Uncomfortable For Students 

Many students may find wearing a mask to be disruptive and uncomfortable . 

This can create a barrier to learning, as students may become distracted or frustrated with the discomfort of wearing a mask all day. 

The Use Of Masks In Schools Could Lead To Decreased Social Interaction 

Wearing a mask in school settings could limit students' ability to interact socially and express themselves. This could have a negative impact on their education and development. 

There Is Limited Scientific Evidence To Support The Use Of Masks In Schools 

While masks are proven to reduce the spread of diseases, there is still limited evidence to support their effectiveness in school settings. 

Examples Of Argumentative Essays About Wearing A Mask 

At CollegeEssay.org, we have many examples of argumentative essays about wearing a mask that you can read for free. 

Our essays are written by experienced writers who specialize in crafting original content on a wide range of topics. 

Argumentative essay about wearing a face mask pdf

Why wearing a mask is important essay

Essay about wearing a face mask is a must

Why wearing a mask is still important

Persuasive speech about wearing a mask

The benefits of wearing a face mask in public

Check our extensive blog on argumentative essay examples to ace your next essay!

We can see from the above arguments that wearing a face mask is an important preventive measure. 

We should all take it seriously in order to protect ourselves and others from the spread of infectious diseases. 

Doing so can help you understand the many arguments for and against masks, as well as the potential implications of wearing one in various settings.

Struggling with deadlines and complex topics? Just say " write my essay " and let our professional service take the reins.

Our team of skilled writers specializes in crafting custom essays that meet your specific requirements and academic standards.

You can also enhance your writing experience with our cutting-edge essay writer , an AI tool designed to fine-tune your work to perfection. 

Cathy A. (Marketing, Law)

For more than five years now, Cathy has been one of our most hardworking authors on the platform. With a Masters degree in mass communication, she knows the ins and outs of professional writing. Clients often leave her glowing reviews for being an amazing writer who takes her work very seriously.

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Everything you need to know about face masks, wearing a mask in public, hand washing and physical distancing help slow the spread of covid-19..

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The COVID-19 pandemic is not over. In the absence of vaccines or medicines to stop COVID-19, one of the best methods to slow the spread of the virus is to wear a face mask, alongside handwashing and practicing physical distancing. Masking up is a cheap, effective way of limiting the transmission of the disease. And while it’s not a cure-all (physical distancing is still key), Science shows that the more people that wear masks in public, the more we can slow the spread of COVID-19.

How do face masks help prevent the spread of COVID-19?

COVID-19 is transmitted from person to person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs. Masks provide a simple barrier to help prevent these respiratory droplets from spreading in the air. You should wear a mask to protect others in case you have the virus, and you should wear a mask to protect yourself. 

Do children need to wear face masks?

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) children may be less affected, but they have a greater number of contacts in school and in public areas. Further studies are underway to assess the risk of infection in children and to better understand transmission in this age group, but the WHO recommends that children over age two should wear masks in community settings were physical distancing is not possible. 

Parents should take the time to teach their children that along with handwashing and physical distancing, wearing a face mask can help protect everyone and is a way to show kindness and caring. 

If I am wearing a mask I do not have to practice physical distancing? 

Wearing a mask is just one step in preventing the spread of COVID-19, and should also be practiced with: •    Maintaining a physical distance of at least one metre •    Frequent handwashing •    Staying home if you do not feel well

STEPS FOR WEARING A MASK

FACE MASK TIPS

MASKS ARE ONLY EFFECTIVE IF YOU WEAR THEM THE RIGHT WAY

WHAT TYPE OF MASK SHOULD YOU WEAR?

Confused about what type of mask you should wear? Here is a guide to help you understand the differences between the two types of masks that WHO recommends to help prevent the spread and transmission of COVID-19.

Fabric masks

• Act as a barrier between the mouth and nose and the surrounding environment. 
• Are intended for use in community or public settings where there are COVID-19 cases and where physical distancing cannot be maintained, in places such as grocery stores or on public transport. 
• Are not recommended for people from vulnerable populations such as those who are 60 or over or those with underlying medical conditions – those individuals should be wearing medical masks. 
• Can be homemade from garments, scarves, bandanas, or items made from t-shirts or other fabrics.
• Should be washed daily.

Medical masks

• Are recommended for those caring for a sick person,  people who have COVID-19 symptoms, people from vulnerable populations such as those who are 60 and over and those with underlying medical conditions. 
• Are for single-use only. Should be safely discarded when mask is damp or damaged. 

Tip : A mask alone cannot protect you from COVID-19. Wearing a mask should be part of a comprehensive package of other infection control measures including handwashing, practicing physical distancing and staying home if you feel ill. 

HOW TO MAKE YOUR OWN MASK

Remember when you wear a mask you are protecting others, and when others wear a mask they are protecting you. 

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April 10, 2024

This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

fact-checked

trusted source

Does wearing a face mask make you seem more or less trustworthy?

by Swinburne University of Technology

Researchers at Swinburne University of Technology have found that the correlation between face masks and perceptions of trustworthiness may be linked to social norms rather than how they impact appearance.

During the global COVID-19 pandemic, the wearing of face masks became normalized, but this has now worn off. As Australians enter flu season, are individuals who are opting to wear face masks as a preventative measure trusted more or less?

Lead by social psychologist , Dr. Julian Oldmeadow, the Swinburne study tracked perceptions of trustworthiness for masked, unmasked and covered faces over time. In total, 373 Australian participants were surveyed across 2020, 2022, or 2023. The study is published in the journal Perception .

"People tended to trust masked faces more than unmasked faces, at least during the height of the pandemic. This boost to trustworthiness has now worn off, so that faces covered with a mask now are at least no more trustworthy-looking than unmasked faces, and perhaps even somewhat less trustworthy."

"The positive effects of masks seen during the pandemic appear to be temporary, based on pandemic-specific social norms around wearing masks to protect yourself and others. But outside contexts where masks are normative, we tend to prefer and trust unmasked faces more, perhaps because we feel we can get a better read on someone when we can see their whole face."

Provided by Swinburne University of Technology

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Negative attitudes about facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic: The dual importance of perceived ineffectiveness and psychological reactance

Steven taylor.

1 Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Gordon J. G. Asmundson

2 Department of Psychology, University of Regina, Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Associated Data

All relevant data are available within the Dryad repository at https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.m37pvmd1n .

This study reports a comprehensive empirical investigation of the nature and correlates of anti-mask attitudes during the COVID-19 pandemic. Accumulating evidence underscores the importance of facemasks, as worn by the general public, in limiting the spread of infection. Accordingly, mask wearing has become increasingly mandatory in public places such as stores and on public transit. Although the public has been generally adherent to mask wearing, a small but vocal group of individuals refuse to wear masks. Anti-mask protest rallies have occurred in many places throughout the world, sometimes erupting violently. Few empirical studies have examined the relationship between anti-mask attitudes and mask non-adherence and little is known about how such attitudes relate to one another or other factors (e.g., non-adherence to social distancing, anti-vaccination attitudes). To investigate these issues, the present study surveyed 2,078 adults from the US and Canada. Consistent with other surveys, we found that most (84%) people wore masks because of COVID-19. The 16% who did not wear masks scored higher on most measures of negative attitudes towards masks. Network analyses indicated that negative attitudes about masks formed an intercorrelated network, with the central nodes in the network being (a) beliefs that masks are ineffective in preventing COVID-19, and (b) psychological reactance (PR; i.e., an aversion to being forced to wear masks). These central nodes served as links, connecting the network of anti-masks attitudes to negative attitudes toward SARSCoV2 vaccination, beliefs that the threat of COVID-19 has been exaggerated, disregard for social distancing, and political conservatism. Findings regarding PR are important because, theoretically, PR is likely to strengthen other anti-masks attitudes (e.g., beliefs that masks are ineffective) because people with strong PR react with anger and counter-arguments when their beliefs are challenged, thereby leading to a strengthening of their anti-mask beliefs. Implications for improving mask adherence are discussed.

Introduction

Adherence and non-adherence to wearing facemasks.

It has become increasingly apparent that behavioral science is vital for understanding how pandemics can be optimally managed, and for understanding and addressing pandemic-related socially disruptive phenomena such as the reluctance or frank refusal to follow health guidelines such as the wearing of face masks [ 1 , 2 ]. Historically, protective facemasks have played an important role in limiting the spread of infection during pandemics [ 2 ]. Mask wearing has long been regarded as vital for healthcare workers and has been recommended for people in the community, although there have been inconsistent messages from health authorities about mask wearing for the general public during the COVID-19 pandemic [ 3 – 5 ]. Early in the pandemic, some health authorities such as the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended that masks not be worn by the public and that masks should be reserved for health care workers and those infected with COVID-19 [ 5 , 6 ]. At that time the WHO and other health authorities also averred that masks are ineffective for the general public, that masks provided a false sense of security, and that the wearing of masks would cause people to touch their faces, thereby increasing their chances of infection [ 5 , 7 ]. Such concerns proved to be unfounded [ 7 – 9 ] and evidence steadily emerged to support the wearing of masks by members of the general public [ 10 , 11 ]. Health authorities such as the WHO subsequently reversed their position on facemasks and recommended that masks be worn by the public when they were in public places, especially when social distancing was not possible [ 6 ].

The prevalence of mask wearing in the community increased as COVID-19 spread globally [ 6 , 12 ]. In the US and Canada, which were the counties in which the present research was focused, mask wearing in the community increased dramatically in the months following the formal declaration on March 11, 2020 that COVID-19 had become a pandemic [ 13 – 16 ]. Surveys conducted from June to August, 2020 suggested that most (approximately 80–85%) of Canadian and American adults regularly wore masks [ 6 , 14 – 17 ]. The increase in mask wearing was likely due to several factors including (a) the increasing prevalence of COVID-19, (b) reversal by health authorities on their earlier position, from dissuading to encouraging the public to wear masks, and (c) mask wearing had become increasingly mandatory in stores and on public transport. In the months after the pandemic was declared, the policy of mandatory masks appeared to gain acceptance among the general public. Surveys in July, 2020 suggested that most respondents (74%) found that a policy of mandatory mask wearing was personally acceptable [ 14 ], which was an increase from 37% in May [ 13 ].

Despite the importance of masks, some people object to wearing them. During the so-called Spanish flu pandemic (1918–1920), for example, opposition to wearing masks occurred in San Francisco in 1919, when authorities attempted to make it mandatory to wear masks in public places. The Anti-Mask League was formed, which was a short-lived protest movement in which the proponents argued that masks were ineffective, inconvenient, and that mandatory mask wearing violated their civil liberties [ 18 , 19 ]. These anti-maskers were a vocal but small group, so most people followed the recommendations to wear masks in public [ 18 , 19 ].

A similar situation has arisen during the COVID-19 pandemic. Estimates suggest that at the time the present research was conducted (July-August, 2020), about 10–15% of adults in the US and Canada rarely or never wore masks in public [ 14 , 16 , 17 ]. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been numerous anti-mask protest rallies, primarily in the US, Canada, Europe, and Australia, with some rallies drawing thousands of people [ 20 – 23 ]. Protest rallies have persisted despite high rates of infection and large numbers of deaths from COVID-19. Violence has erupted in some rallies as protesters clashed with counter-protesters or with police [ 21 , 23 – 26 ]. Just as in 1919, the COVID-19 anti-mask protests were spurred by government plans to make masks mandatory. Some rallies were protests against mandatory masks, while others were broader, protesting against masks, social distancing, lockdown, and vaccines [ 22 , 23 , 27 ]. Protesters at some anti-masks rallies were joined by people espousing conspiracy theories, such as the unfounded belief that the threat of COVID-19 has been exaggerated by the government in order to control the populace [ 28 ].

Unlike the 1919 anti-mask movement, which was short-lived and limited to a single city, the anti-mask rallies during COVID-19 have taken place in many cities, sporadically arising without any evidence (at the time of writing) of petering out. The recurrence of such rallies is likely fueled by social media and news media coverage combined with strongly engrained anti-mask attitudes held by at least a small proportion of the population.

Very little is known about the motivations for mask non-adherence. Public opinion polls suggest that people with conservative political affiliations (Republicans in the US or Conservatives in Canada) are less likely to wear masks than people with liberal affiliations (Democrats or Liberals) [ 6 , 15 , 17 , 29 ]. This may be partly because Republican political leaders were initially reluctant to wear masks, even mocking those who wore masks [ 6 , 17 ], and because people with politically conservative ideologies tend to resist government regulatory efforts [ 30 ], such as attempts to make masks mandatory.

Several opinion polls have assessed reasons for not wearing masks, although the polls were limited in the number of reasons assessed. The most common of the assessed reasons for not wearing masks were: Not believing that masks are effective, finding masks uncomfortable, difficulty establishing the habit of mask wearing, and lack of concern about COVID-19 [ 14 , 15 , 17 , 31 ]. Newspaper reports of protest rallies offer additional, anecdotal information on anti-masks sentiments. Several reasons for not wearing masks were suggested by news reports of anti-mask protests: Beliefs that masks violate civil liberties, beliefs that masks are ineffective and possibly harmful because masks make breathing difficult, and beliefs that the threat of COVID-19 has been exaggerated [ 3 , 20 , 22 , 23 , 32 – 38 ]. Despite the range of anti-mask attitudes, a common theme running through these reports is that protestors believe that mandatory masks are a violation of civil rights. In other words, anecdotal news reports suggest that the rallies are motivated, at least in part, by a phenomenon known as psychological reactance (PR).

Psychological reactance

People like to feel in control [ 39 ]. Relatedly, PR is a motivational response to rules, regulations, or attempts at persuasion that are perceived as threatening one’s sense of control, autonomy, or freedom of choice [ 40 , 41 ]. The perceived threat motivates the person to assert their freedom by rejecting attempts at persuasion, rules, regulation, and other means of control. Thus, when PR is evoked it is characterized by counter-arguments and anger [ 42 ]. This might involve denying the existence of a threat [ 40 , 43 ]; for example, denying the need to wear masks by denying the seriousness of the pandemic. Thus, PR is expected to be correlated with a denial or disregard for the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tendency to experience PR is a personality trait [ 44 ], which is correlated with a range of phenomena including antisocial and narcissistic personality traits [ 45 , 46 ] and with political conservatism [ 47 , 48 ]. The latter finding is not surprising given that conservative ideology, as compared to liberal ideology, strongly favors limited government intervention [ 30 ], and so government policies that threaten to restrict freedoms are likely to elicit PR [ 47 ]. Mass communication messages that try to persuade people to adopt a given behavior, such as wearing masks, can elicit PR, thereby undermining the impact of the message [ 41 , 49 ]. Given these considerations, it is important to investigate whether PR is implicated in mask non-adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aims of the present study

Although most people have been adherent to wearing masks during the COVID-19 pandemic, opinion polls suggest that a small but significant proportion of people (10–15%) object to wearing masks. News reports, although anecdotal, suggest that people who object to wearing masks are a vocal minority, engaging in protest rallies that sometimes erupt in violence. Accordingly, non-adherence to wearing masks is a socially important phenomenon as well as one that is relevant to managing the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, the study of mask non-adherence during the COVID-19 pandemic has been largely limited, with some exceptions discussed later [ 50 , 51 ], to a small number of opinion polls, with a limited assessment of anti-masks attitudes. The present study had three primary aims.

The first aim was to conduct a broad examination of anti-mask attitudes, to determine which attitudes are related to masks non-adherence, and to investigate how anti-mask attitudes are related to one another. Previous research on PR suggests that mask-related PR (i.e., objecting to being forced to wear masks) should be related to other anti-mask attitudes, because when a person with a high degree of PR is challenged regarding a given attitude (e.g., the belief that masks are ineffective), then that person will resist the efforts at belief change by generating counter-arguments to support the attitudes (e.g., generating counter-arguments to support the belief that masks are ineffective).

The second aim was to investigate how anti-mask attitudes are related to political conservatism. Previous research, as discussed above, suggests that the general propensity to PR is related to conservatism; but, it has yet to be empirically established whether mask-related PR is related to political conservatism. The final aim was to investigate how anti-mask attitudes are related to attitudes and behaviors that are associated with non-adherence to other pandemic-control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic, such as disregard for social distancing and anti-vaccination attitudes. Recent research provides evidence for a COVID-19 disregard “syndrome” [ 52 ]. This is not a syndrome in the medical sense of the term, but rather a constellation of inter-related attitudes and beliefs. People with this syndrome tend to (a) believe that the COVID-19 pandemic has been exaggerated, (b) see themselves as physically robust to any illness they may experience as a result of being infected with SARSCoV2, and (c) tend to disregard social distancing because they see it as unnecessary [ 52 ]. This syndrome is also associated with negative attitudes toward a potential vaccine for SARSCoV2 (i.e., beliefs that a vaccine is unnecessary or that the benefits of such a vaccine are outweighed by the potential risks) [ 52 ].

The first aim of this study was addressed by simple t-tests comparing anti-mask attitudes of people who were adherent versus non-adherent to wearing masks. The remaining aims were address by network analyses, which are well-suited for gaining insights into the complex interplay among variables. Network analysis provides important information about relationships among elements (nodes) in a network (e.g., sets of attitudes or behaviors). Network analysis assumes that nodes are inter-related because they are, in some way, causally linked with one another. In network analysis, the links are known as “edges.” The presence of statistically significant edges does not assume that nodes are influenced by some underlying factor such as a latent variable. Instead, network analysis assumes that nodes may directly influence one another [ 53 ]. In the present study, anti-mask attitudes were predicted to form a network of interconnected nodes. Given that PR theoretically amplifies the strength of other attitudes, mask-related PR was predicted to be one of the central nodes in the network of mask-related attitudes. Network analyses were also conducted to determine how the network of anti-mask attitudes is related to other variables: Political conservativism, the elements of the COVID-19 disregard syndrome, and SARSCoV2 anti-vaccination attitudes. If nodes causally influence one another, then changes in a central node are most likely to lead to changes in other nodes in the network through the spreading of activation. Central nodes, as compared to peripheral nodes, are defining features of a network. Identifying central nodes has the potential to inform which elements to target in interventions. As a caveat, note that network analyses in cross-sectional designs such as the present study are suggestive of, but do not establish causality. Significant edges might represent causal influences (either unidirectional or directional) but experimental designs are needed to establish causality. Accordingly, network analyses provide a source of hypotheses about causal links among variables in a network.

The sample consisted of 2,078 adults (age ≥18 years) from the United States ( N = 1,036) and Canada ( N = 1,042). The mean age was 54 years (SD = 14 years, range 18–94 years). Most (93%) were employed full- or part-time, most (82%) had completed full or partial college, and 40% were female. Most (70%) were White, with the remainder being Asian (13%), African American/Black (8%), Latino/Hispanic (4%), or other (4%). Only 2% of the sample reported being diagnosed with COVID-19.

Data collection procedures

Data were collected from July 20 to August 7, 2020, using an internet-based self-report survey delivered in English by Qualtrics, a commercial survey sampling and administration company. Qualtrics solicited the present sample as part of our ongoing research program [ 54 , 55 ]. Qualtrics maintains a pool of potential participants who have agreed to be contacted in order to respond to surveys. Qualtrics selected and contacted participants to meet sampling quotas based on age, gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic region within each country. All respondents provided written informed consent prior to completing the survey. The research described in this article was approved by the Research Ethics Board of the University of Regina (REB# 2020–043). Filters were used to eliminate data from careless responders. Embedded in the assessment battery were four attention-check items (e.g., “This is an attention check, please select Strongly Agree”; “For our research, it is really important that you paid attention while responding to our survey. How attentive were you when responding?”: “Very Inattentive” to “Very Attentive”). Participants were included only if they provided correct responses to three or more of the four attention checks (e.g., “Strongly agree” or “Very attentive”), indicating that they were sufficiently attentive. In addition, at the end of the assessment battery, participants were asked to indicate whether, in their honest opinion, their data should be used. Those who responded “no” were excluded from data analysis, regardless of their score on the attention-check items.

Participants completed a battery of measures, including demographic questions. Adherence to wearing facemasks was assessed with a face-valid yes/no item: “Do you wear a facemask because of concerns about COVID-19?” Participants completed a 12-item scale, developed for the purpose of the present study, assessing negative attitudes about facemasks. The items, derived from previous descriptions of anti-mask attitudes [ 2 , 14 , 15 , 17 – 19 , 31 , 56 ], are listed in Table 1 . Each item was rated on a 7-point scale (1 = strongly disagree, 7 = strongly agree). Three scales, previously developed to assess the COVID Disregard Syndrome [ 52 ], were also administered: (a) Belief that the dangerousness of COVID-19 is exaggerated, (b) disregard for social distancing, and (c) belief that one has robust personal health against infection. Items on these scales were rated on a 5-point scale (0 = strongly disagree, 4 = strongly agree). These face-valid scales have good levels of reliability and validity [ 52 ]. Anti-vaccination attitudes toward a SARSCoV2 vaccine were measured using an adaptation of the Vaccination Attitudes Examination Scale [ 57 ], assessing vaccination attitudes specific to SARSCoV2 [ 58 ]. The items in this scale, each rated on a 6-point scale (0 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree), assess mistrust of vaccine benefit, worries over unforeseen future effects of the vaccine, concerns about commercial profiteering from the vaccine, and preference for natural immunity. The scale has good levels of reliability and validity [ 57 , 58 ]. Political conservatism was assessed with a single face-valid item: “In general, how would you describe your political views?” (1 = very liberal, 7 = very conservative).

* p < .01,

** p < .005,

*** p < .001.

Statistical procedures

For the network analyses, Glasso networks (regularized partial correlation networks) were computed using the R qgraph package [ 59 ]. Indices of centrality, also calculated with qgraph , were used to assess the relative importance of each node in the network [ 60 ]. Three indices of centrality were computed: Strength , betweenness , and closeness . Strength refers to how well a node is directly connected to other nodes in the network. Node strength is computed as the sum of the absolute values of edge weights (regularized partial correlations) that directly connect that node with other nodes. Closeness refers to how well a node is indirectly connected to other nodes in the network. Closeness is calculated by computing, for a given node, the inverse sum of edge weights for the shortest path between that node and each other node, and then summing the values for these paths. Betweenness refers to how important a given node is in the average path between two other nodes; that is, how often a given node is the most efficient (shortest) path between other nodes. This is an index of the importance of a given node in connecting nodes with one another. The stability (reliability) of the relative order of magnitude of edge weights and their strengths were tested by the correlation of stability coefficient, also calculated via bootnet [ 53 ]. Coefficients exceeding.50 suggest stable (reliable) results [ 53 ]. Due to the number of statistical tests conducted in this study, the α level was set at.01 instead of the conventional.05.

The majority (84%) of respondents reported that they wore facemask because of personal concerns about COVID-19, which indicates a high degree of adherence to public health recommendations. Negative attitudes about masks were largely uncorrelated with demographic variables (see S1 Appendix ). Wearing of masks because of concerns about COVID-19 was also largely unrelated to demographic variables (see S1 Appendix ). That is, mask wearing (coded 1 = yes, 0 = no) was uncorrelated with age, gender, education level, and employment status ( r s ranged from -.03 to.02; see S1 Appendix ). Mask wearing was significantly correlated with ethnic minority (non-White) status, but the correlation was very small ( r = .07, p < .001). Mask wearing also had a small but significant correlation with country (coded as 1 = Canada, 2 = US); r = .13, p < .001). That is, significantly more people from the US than Canada reported wearing masks (90% vs. 78%). This may have reflected the significantly higher per capita prevalence of COVID-19 disease and mortality in the US than Canada at the time the study was conducted (i.e., late July/early August, 2020). At that time, Canada was classified as a moderate mortality country and the US a high mortality country, with the estimated number of deaths per 100,000 people being 25 for Canada and 60 for the US [ 61 ].

Table 1 provides details about the degree of endorsement of negative attitudes about masks. People who did not wear masks because of COVID-19 tended to have more negative attitudes about masks as compared to people who wore masks. People who did not wear masks were most likely to report that they did not like being forced to wear a facemask (i.e., mask-related PR), believed that masks were ineffective and possibly harmful, believed that masks had adverse interpersonal effects, found masks to be esthetically unappealing, and found mask wearing to be an inconvenient habit to form (see Table 1 ).

Anti-mask attitudes were strongly correlated with one another, with r s ranging from.35 to.91 and a mean r of.55 ( p s < .001; see S1 Appendix ). Figs ​ Figs1 1 – 3 summarize the results of the network analyses. Fig 1 depicts the edges (regularized partial correlations) between nodes in the network of anti-mask attitudes. Edge values and their significance levels are shown in S1 Appendix . The Fig shows five sets of strongly clustered attitudinal variables, as indicated by the strongest edges (i.e., thickest of the green connecting lines) in Fig 1 : (A) Beliefs that masks are ineffective and possibly harmful, (B) beliefs that mask wearing is an inconvenient habit to form, (C) beliefs that masks are esthetically unappealing, (D) beliefs that masks have adverse interpersonal effects, and (E) beliefs about the physical inconvenience of masks (i.e., difficulty breathing and overheating). As shown in Table 1 , clusters A-D discriminated people who wore masks from those who did not. Fig 1 shows that at the center of the network was mask-related PR, which was connected to all clusters except cluster E. The coefficients of stability for the network shown in Fig 1 were.96 for edge weights and.75 for node strengths. These values exceed the cutoff of.50, suggesting stable (reliable) results.

All edges were positive (i.e., positive regularized partial correlations). Stronger edges are indicated by thicker lines. For all edges, p < .01. Difficulty breathing : It is difficult to breathe when wearing a facemask. False sense of security : Facemasks provide a false sense of security. Hard to form habit : It is hard to develop the habit of wearing a facemask. Hassle : Wearing a facemask is too much of a hassle. Ineffective : Facemasks are ineffective. Look silly : Facemasks look silly. Overheat : Facemasks cause me to overheat. Psychol . reactance to facemasks : I do not like feeling forced to wear a facemask. Touch face : Facemasks are unsafe because they force you to touch your face. Ugly : Facemasks look ugly or weird. Uneasy : Facemasks make other people feel uneasy. Untrustworthy : Facemasks make people look untrustworthy.

All edges were positive. Stronger edges are indicated by thicker lines. For all edges, p < .01.

Fig 2 shows the indices of centrality for the network in Fig 1 . Fig 2 shows that beliefs that masks are ineffective was the strongest node in the network in that it was the node that was most directly connected to other nodes in the network. Fig 2 further shows that PR had the highest values on the closeness and betweenness indices. In other words, PR was highly important in terms of connecting other nodes with one another. In summary, Figs ​ Figs1 1 and ​ and2 2 indicate that PR and beliefs that masks are ineffective were the most important nodes in the network of anti-mask attitudes.

Large values indicate that a given node had greater importance in the network, as indicated by its connections (edges) with other elements in the network. BRE : It is difficult to breathe when wearing a facemask. FAC : Facemasks are unsafe because they force you to touch your face. HAB : It is hard to develop the habit of wearing a facemask. HAS : Wearing a facemask is too much of a hassle. HEA : Facemasks cause me to overheat. INE : Facemasks are ineffective. PR : I do not like feeling forced to wear a facemask. SEC : Facemasks provide a false sense of security. SIL : Facemasks look silly. UGL : Facemasks look ugly or weird. UNE : Facemasks make other people feel uneasy. UNT : Facemasks make people look untrustworthy.

Fig 3 shows how the network of anti-mask attitudes was linked to other variables. For this network the coefficient of stability was.93 for edge weights, suggesting that the estimation of these values was stable (reliable). The actual values of the edge weights and their significance levels appear in S1 Appendix . For the network in Fig 3 , centrality indices were not computed because they were not relevant to the aims of this analysis, which was to determine how the network of anti-mask attitudes was linked to other variables. The Fig shows that the network of anti-mask attitudes was linked to the other variables by means of the two most important nodes in the anti-mask network—PR and beliefs that masks are ineffective. Beliefs that masks are ineffective was also linked to the nodes comprising the COVID Disregard Syndrome, and to COVID-19 anti-vaccination attitudes. PR was linked to the COVID Disregard Syndrome and to political conservatism. PR was significantly correlated with political conservatism for samples from both the US ( r = .36, p < .001) and Canada ( r = .28, p < .001), with no significant difference between the two at the α level of.01 ( z = 1.98, p >.04).

People who object to wearing masks are a small but highly vocal minority of individuals. The media attention that they have drawn may have given the misleading impression that the anti-mask sentiment is widespread. However, our findings, just like the findings from opinion surveys [ 6 , 14 – 17 ] show that the majority of people are willing to follow the advice of health authorities about wearing masks. Refusal to wear masks is associated with a range of anti-mask attitudes, at the center of which are PR and beliefs that masks are ineffective. The core reasons identified in the present study are remarkably similar to the reasons voiced in 1919 by the Anti-Mask League; that is, respondents in 2020, just like those in 1919, believed that masks were ineffective and violated their civil liberties. Fig 2 shows that the network of anti-mask attitudes is linked, via its central nodes (mask-related PR and beliefs that masks are ineffective), to other variables such disregard for social distancing and anti-vaccination attitudes. These findings underscore the importance of mask-related PR and beliefs that masks are ineffective.

A critical question for psychologists and those involved in public health messaging is, “What is the best way of encouraging people with anti-mask attitudes to wear masks?” It is important to consider the motivational roots of mask refusal. If a person refuses to wear a mask simply because he or she believes them to be ineffective, then it might be that targeted education may be sufficient. However, given that the belief that masks are ineffective is strongly correlated with mask-related PR ( r = .66, p < .001; see S1 Appendix ), this approach may be insufficient in many or perhaps most other cases. People who believe masks are ineffective also tend to have high levels of PR. If one tries to persuade a person with high PR that masks are effective, this will elicit reactance in which that person generates further arguments against the effectiveness of masks. The same applies to other reasons for mask refusal (e.g., the belief that masks make people look suspicious). Attempts to counter the majority of reasons for mask refusal will also elicit reactance because mask-related PR lies at the heart of the network of anti-mask attitudes.

PR is strongly correlated ( r = .51) with psychopathic personality traits such as a tendency toward angry, impulsive behavior [ 46 ]. Accordingly, confronting people who refuse to wear masks could be hazardous. Indeed, there have been media reports of people reacting violently when confronted about not wearing masks. For example, on public transit or in stores in which mask wearing is mandatory, people who refuse to wear masks have verbally and physically assaulted people who have asked them to don a mask [ 62 , 63 ]. Accordingly, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recommended against confronting non-mask-wearers [ 64 ].

Alternative strategies are required, particularly persuasion strategies that address PR. Targeting PR is important because reactance lies at the heart of anti-mask attitudes. If the links in Fig 1 have any causal status, then reducing PR should lead to a reduction in other anti-masks attitudes. Researchers in the field of mass communication have suggested several strategies for improving the persuasiveness of messages in situations in which PR might occur. Indirect or subtle types of messaging—known as “nudges” in behavioral economics [ 65 ]—could be used. A nudge is something that alters a person’s behavior in a predictable way without forbidding any options or significantly changing their economic incentives. Mask-related nudges could consist of handing out free masks at the entrances to store or displaying brightly colored posters of happy cartoon characters wearing masks. It is unclear whether such nudges are effective when PR plays a role in mask refusal.

Other forms of messaging have been proposed as ways of specifically dealing with PR. A review of the research literature on mass communication [ 49 ] concluded that several messaging strategies could circumvent PR. These strategies could be adapted for mask-related PR, as follows:

• Add postscripts to messages that emphasize freedom of choice (e.g., “Please do your part in managing the pandemic by wearing a mask. The choice is yours.”). The postscript is intended to ameliorate PR.
• Narratives that highlight personal choice (e.g., personal stories about why people who were initially reluctant to wear masks eventually chose to wear masks).
• Messaging that emphasizes how an individual’s choices impact others (e.g., “Choosing to wear a mask shows that you care about your community”).
• Messages that on the surface address one audience but are really targeted at a different audience who may be listening (e.g., “Thank you for choosing to wear masks. Wearing a mask might seem to be a small thing to it, but it is vitally important”).
• Messages that forewarn receivers about the potential of them experiencing reactance (e.g., “Some people think they’re giving up freedom by wearing a mask. But that’s not true. Wearing a mask is a way of freeing ourselves from the pandemic”).
• Using reactance to strengthen the message (e.g., “You have a right to wear a mask to stay safe. Don’t let anyone take away your right”). This message could help mask-refusers to realize that wearing a mask is a right that they can choose to adopt.

No single type of message is effective under all circumstances, and pilot testing is required before messages are implemented in mass communication programs in order that they be fine-tuned and to avert any unintended adverse effects of messaging [ 2 ]. The efficacy of the above-mentioned messaging strategies for improving mask adherence largely remain to be investigated for improving mask adherence, although recent research supports the idea that emphasizing the importance of mask wearing for one’s community (i.e., an appeal to altruism) can improve adherence to mask wearing [ 50 ].

Additional messaging strategies also merit investigation. The present study found that mask refusal was associated with affectively-toned reasons for not wearing masks (e.g., beliefs that masks are ugly or make people look silly) ( Table 1 ). Efforts at encouraging people to focus on the logical safety reasons for wearing masks may help people set aside their emotional or esthetic concerns about masks. Recent research supports this possibility, in which the intention to wear masks was facilitated by encouraging people to focus on the logical reasons rather than on their emotions [ 51 ].

The present study has various strengths and limitations. In terms of strengths, the sample was large and the present study was, to our knowledge, the first to use network analysis to understand the interrelationships among anti-mask attitudes and their relationships to other variables that have been shown to influence attitudes and behavior in the context of pandemics. A further strength of the present study was that, compared to previous surveys, the present study examined a larger number of different types of anti-mask attitudes as they related to mask wearing and other variables. A limitation is that not all possible anti-mask attitudes were assessed. Future research is needed to investigate anti-masks attitudes that were not investigated in the present study. For example, the present study did not assess the belief that mask wearing is a sign of weakness, which was an attitude voiced in an Ohio anti-mask rally [ 66 ] and identified as a reason for not wearing masks in research published after the present study had been completed [ 50 ]. The replicability of the findings across different countries and cultures also remains to be investigated in future research. A further limitation is that network analysis, as a statistical modeling method, is insufficient for determining the causal nature of the relationships between nodes. Nevertheless, the present findings provide a strong rationale for conducting future experimental studies on the causal status of mask-related PR and beliefs that masks are ineffective. The present study also underscores the importance of conducting future research to investigate the efficacy of messaging strategies that take PR into consideration as a means of addressing the problem of mask non-adherence.

Supporting information

S1 appendix, acknowledgments.

The authors thank Michelle M. Paluszek, Caeleigh A. Landry, and Geoffrey S. Rachor for their assistance in completing this study.

Funding Statement

This research was funded to G.J.G.A. and S.T. by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (#439751) ( https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/193.html ) and to G.J.G.A. from the University of Regina ( https://www.uregina.ca/ ). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.

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COVID-19 Essay Sample: Should We Be Wearing Masks during the Pandemic

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Health , Pandemic , Health Care , Coronavirus , COVID-19 , Quarantine , Disease , Viruses

Words: 1200

Published: 04/29/2020

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This is just one essay on coronavirus from the vast collection carefully curated by Wow Essays . This example is here for academic purposes only. For medical information, turn to the official Health Care resources!

COVID-19, or coronavirus disease, is a highly infectious disease caused by the novel (newly discovered) virus of the Corona family. The first cases were registered in the Chinese city of Wuhan late in 2019 (hence the “19” in the name), but soon through human-to-human transmission, the virus spread globally causing the pandemic.

The majority of people who contract COVID-19 will experience mild to moderate respiratory symptoms and fever similar to the ones brought about by flue and will recover without requiring medical help. However, the elderly and people with some underlying conditions might develop serious complications, down to the fatal outcome.

What’s up with the masks?

The most dangerous aspect of coronavirus disease is its high contagiousness. The number of infected people spikes explosively and the medical facilities become overwhelmed with patients who need medical care to survive, including mechanical ventilation of lungs. Another dangerous aspect is that infected people might experience no symptoms whatsoever, but keep infecting others they contact with.

According to the information on the official World Health Organization website, “[the] virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes” (WHO, 2020).

That is why one of the most effective ways of slowing the spread of the coronavirus down is respiratory etiquette: covering your face with a tissue when you sneeze, coughing into a flexed elbow instead of your hands (to avoid spreading the virus via the surfaces you touch), and wearing a face mask.

The necessity of a face mask has been a subject of heated disputes. Some argue it has little to no effect and even imply that the whole thing was invented either to sell more masks or even to “normalize face covering” in our culture in a sneaky way. Meanwhile, others reverently believe in its protective power and stash surgical masks in their closets contributing to the shortage.

What the mask can and cannot do

The answer lies, as usual, in the understanding of how things work. Surgical masks are not an impenetrable shield; their protection has its limitations. However, depending on the particular mask and the material it’s made of, it can reduce the amount of infectious bioaerosols by 6-fold on average, with maximum efficiency being a 55-fold reduction (Makison Booth et al., 2013)

Of course, there are cases when mask protection fails:

• if bioaerosol from an infected person reaches your eyes
• if you touch your face and eyes with hands that have been in contact with the virus (for example, you high-fived a sick person and then scratched your nose under the mask)
• if you’ve been using the mask for too long and it soaked through

There are also cases, when masks are simply unnecessary, for example, if you are out in the open air and keep a safe distance from other people.

However, if you are contacting a person who has or might have contracted COVID-19 or going into an enclosed space with other people, the mask is an essential means of individual protection that curbs the risk of infection.

What is more important, the mask not only protects you from the saliva droplets spread by people around you. It is even more efficient in holding your own bioaerosols back and preventing you from passing the infection on, even if you aren’t yet aware of being infected. Therefore, if you are experiencing respiratory symptoms, you should wear a mask when you visit the store, the hospital, or simply go about your business and contact other people. This is just civil and responsible behavior.

Should you wear a mask amidst the coronavirus outbreak? Ultimately, it’s up to you. Yet while making a decision to wear it or not to wear it, you should weigh not only your own safety but also the safety of others around you.

References:

• World Health Organization (23-04-2020), Coronavirus overview . Retrieved from https://www.who.int/health-topics/coronavirus
• Makison Booth, C., Clayton, M., Crook, B. & Gawn, J. M. (2013) “Effectiveness of surgical masks against influenza bioaerosols”. Journal of Hospital Infection , 84 (1), 22-26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2013.02.007

How about some other COVID-19 Essay Topics?

This is just one sample, but the effects of the coronavirus outbreak are profound and multipronged. Therefore, you might be willing to explore other aspects of coronavirus and its impact on our life. Here are some of the COVID essay topic examples we suggest for you:

• Coronavirus Disease is a Wakeup Call for Humanity to End Brutality Against Animals
• Pandemic Essay: Could Algorithms Predict the Spread of Viruses and Help Us Stop Future Pandemics?
• Quarantine Essay: Will Negative Effects of the Lockdown Outweigh the Benefits?
• Is Mechanical Ventilation Effective in Treating COVID-19 Patients?
• Why Some Doctors Say that Intubating COVID Patients is Catch-22?
• Who are the most vulnerable to COVID-19?
• Coronavirus Outbreak And Population Density: What Ecology Can Tell Us About Future Risks
• Some People Cannot Afford to Quarantine: Coronavirus Lays Bare The Wealth Gap in the USA and the World
• Coronavirus and Conspiracy Theories: From Secret Weapon to Bureaucratic Hoax
• The Role of Preparedness Subculture in the Stocking Up Frenzy Amidst Coronavirus Outbreak
• Why Bats Are Overrepresented as Natural Reservoir for Viruses?
• COVID-19 Impact of Global Economy
• Coronavirus and Racism: Why Asian Americans are Stigmatized Because of COVID-19
• Social Distancing and Mental Health
• Negligence to Overreaction: How Countries Around the World React to Novel Coronavirus Challenge
• How SARS‑CoV‑2 is Different from Other Zoonoses
• Wet Markets: Traditional Practice or Hazard for Humanity
• Coronavirus Myths: Why They Spread Even Faster Than the Virus
• What Our Reaction to Coronavirus Tells Us About Our Humanity
• Why Corona Death Toll Differs So Widely From Country to Country?
• The Impact of Comorbidity on Coronavirus Patients
• How Can We Plan Health Facilities and Medical Logistics for Future Pandemics

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