“ Please, It’s Just A Mask!”

Randi King
4 min readNov 22, 2020
Photo by Cottonbro from Pexels

I’m sure you have heard these words, “The virus is just a hoax!”

“It is not real.”

“I can’t breathe with it on”
Or,

“ We just have to learn to live with it!”
And even,
“There’s no proof a mask will protect you from the virus.”

So, my question today is, “what do we have to lose by wearing the mask?”
“I don’t know…maybe our very life?”😪

Early one morning, I was returning home from getting some gas for my car.

Surprisingly, I heard the heartbreaking laments of a COVID-19 nurse. She expressed her disbelief about so many not wearing masks.

The nurse said, in-part, “I see families dying and so many who are suffering from COVID-19 . I wonder why people don’t social distance themselves. Why people don’t wear mask?”

My heart was touched as she spoke about the the deadly, highly contagious and infectious virus we have come to know as COVID-19.

I DON’T BLAME YOU FOR DISTRUSTING THE SCIENCE🤔
I remember hearing the government’s top Covid-19 expert saying that we shouldn’t wear masks.

But, we later learned that those words were — in an effort — to keep the public from buying up the masks that were needed for healthcare workers.

This is not to ignore the menacing confusion coming out of the White House where the Commander-N-Chief quoted the CDC:

“…So it’s voluntary. You don’t have to do it. I don’t think I will be doing it.”

The “read” hear is: If the President is not going to wear a mask — or, is not wearing a mask — then, it must not be that serious! I won’t wear one either. 👎

BUT, WHAT ABOUT MASKS WORN IN OTHER PARTS OF THE WORLD?

photo by Akhere-Unuabonaon Unspalsh
photo by Pradnyal on Unspalsh

I’m glad you asked that question…😎

See, the WHO, through their research and studies have concluded that masks are just — a piece of the total recommended protection guidelines — put in place for public health.

They maintain that the mask helps to prevent the spread of respiratory viral diseases — including COVID-19 — via droplets from coughing, sneezing or very close personal contact.

The takeaway is that the mask covers the mouth and nose and negates entry at these points.

However, the eyes are also points of entry for droplets from the virus.

Here’s the deal:

Wearing a mask can help protect a healthy person from becoming exposed if they come in contact with an infected person.

The same is true for an infected person — who wears a mask — to avoid transmitting the virus to others.

THE TRANSMISSION PACKAGE FROM THE WHO

So, the WHO — this is not the Rock-band 😉 — has put together a total transmission package for suppressing the virus:

  • Masks ( in health care settings, the general public and home care )
  • Frequent hand washing
  • Physical distancing
  • Other infection prevention measures ( sanitizing all surfaces,etc., )

However, Epidemiologists admit they still don’t know all there is to know about this virus.

They acknowledge that the use of a mask along is not enough to prevent infection.

Thus, they recommended following all the above mentioned guidelines relative to preventing the spread of the disease.

We should also be aware that transmission can occur:

  • Directly by contact with an infected person
  • Indirectly, by contact with surfaces in the immediate environment
  • Or, with objects used on or by the infected person

And, as far as I am concerned — adding gloves and wearing a face shield — would be an extra layer of protection if working directly with the public.

For those of you who still have your doubts about the benefits of wearing a mask — maybe these startling statistics can help you understand the gravity and savagery of COVID-19.

This data on the number of cases and deaths from COVID-19 both in the US and Worldwide is crushing!!😱

Data from Wikipedia and NY Times

Hey, look at this way…

Wearing a mask is the first step in helping to reduce the spread of the virus.

Soooooo, once again…it’s just a mask!😷

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Randi King

A native Texan, I have lived in California for a number of years.😎 To my teenager, California is home. My family’s history is one of longevity.