Where Masking Worked
The arguments for or against wearing face masks to reduce the spread of a virus usually ignore other areas where they are effective and not in a positive way. Do not confuse this as an argument about mitigating spread. My intent is to highlight some aspects not addressed in the controversial Cochrane study. I have no medical degree or randomized clinical trials to reference. But I do have plenty of stories from the Covid Hellscape of Public Health Expert Policy.
I had a neck gaiter phase of face coverings during the peak covid era pandemic in New York City. Before entering a business enforcing the face covering policy, I recall the feeling of pulling up the piece of cloth over my face and imagining myself as some outlaw in a western film about to provide some pivotal plot points. As crime picked up in the city, from security camera footage, you would see actual outlaw figures during a robbery wearing medical face coverings. Were they wearing this for virus mitigation or the effect of concealing their appearance to avoid being identified later? Seems like if you're breaking the law, you might not be as concerned about complying with a request to wear a face covering unless it served some dual purpose.
Mask requirements have significant psychological effects while the expressed intent relates more to the physical function of the body's respiratory system and what it may be circulating. It's not the only bodily accessory that has a purpose more realized in visual projection than in a functional or utilitarian way. Neckties signal attention to detail while providing no apparent utility. And I have known several people that wear wristwatches despite the watch's battery being dead.
You could argue that face masks help keep particles ejected from the nose during a sneeze from traveling further. But the reality of the sneeze argument was lost on me after I witnessed several people riding the subway and at work removing a mask just in time to sneeze (while muzzling with a traditional hand-covering gesture). To be fair to the temporarily unmasked sneezers, without a spare mask on hand, post sneeze would you want to be breathing through a damp, mucus-layered mask? In theory, they help stop sneezing particles, in practice they don't. In a surgical setting, I'm sure different behaviors are observed with good reason.
Ultimately, in the context of Covid and post-Covid pandemic measures, I believe the unofficial purpose of masking is control (not pathogenic). Masking has the same effect that school or military uniforms have, collective cohesion to authoritative instructions while muting personal expression and individual identity. The images of a masked Statue of Liberty used for the NYC vaccine campaign are a fitting visual metaphor. Masked liberty. Land of the almost free.
Many easily fall in line obediently to authority and practically celebrate the act of compliance. To some, the mask goes beyond being uniform and takes on a more religious projection as a crucifix necklace may employ for others. It signals belief. This post by Unbekoming explains another staple of this pandemic era in the context of ritual that I found enlightening. The act of putting on a mask became ritualistic.
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