Why Don't People Wear Masks In Public?

Photo: Medical Xpress

Ever since the beginning signs of the COVID-19 pandemic, personal protective gear has been a point of concern.  How much do I wear to avoid contracting Coronavirus (i.e., COVID-19)?  What are the routes of exposure to the unknown virus?  As with any unknown virus, sealing all pathways into the human body is a good start.  As time passed, the main route of exposure was determined to be through the nose and mouth (i.e., lungs).  The mask has emerged to be at the forefront of the fight against Coronavirus.



What is the issue then?  Everyone should just wear one, right?



In fact, in a recent post, I pointed out that in a news article, the number of deaths reported in Hong Kong was 4.  That was amazing.  What is also amazing is that 99% of residents wear masks out in public.  The correlation/causation is simple.  Reducing the transmission by covering the mouth and nose can be accomplished with a mask.



The problem in the United States of America is that residents do not like to be told what to do on a large scale.  Additionally, at the highest levels of government, leaders (i.e., President Trump) refuses to wear a mask due to vanity concerns -- absolutely ridiculous.



Where Have We Come From In Two Months?



The main question as a scientist is the following:  Where has the United States progressed from in 2 months of quarantine? 



Another question is:  Are we any safer now as opposed to back then?



The answer depends on who is questioned.  Scientists might be inclined to report that national numbers could be declining with the implementation of the quarantine.  Against that backdrop is President Trump claiming that the time has come to open up the economy -- the benefits outweigh the dangers.



Has a vaccination for COVID-19 been discovered and mass-produced yet?



The answer is NO.



Two months have passed with trillions of dollars in stimulus given to residents and large corporations.  The result is not great.  The economy must be opened.



We are nearly standing at 100,000 deaths from the virus since the origin in our country.  The inability of the residents who are getting extremely frustrated with the lack of 'high numbers' in each state has caused a widespread rebellion.  A rebellion to denounce the presence of the virus or the severity of it.



In a recent Twitter post shown below is a video of a crowd.  The crowd is chanting "Take it off" to the reporter who is wearing a mask:

Came across this clip in @FOX9 video from Monday's protest/rally outside Shady's Tavern in Albany, MN. This is @LouRaguse, a fellow Reporter & friend trying to cover the story. And getting *harassed* for wearing a mask. A judge will decide soon whether the bar can legally re-open pic.twitter.com/iHYXUvysow

— Paul Blume (@PaulBlume_FOX9) May 22, 2020

Wow!  The level of ignorance of the crowd is beyond reproach.  A second video is shown below. It is of a Tweet in which a GOP representative blames the pandemic on the Democrats:

Absolutely bizarre. The Bexar County GOP chair concludes this rally by stating that the coronavirus is a hoax perpetuated by Democrats, tells people to take off their masks, and then everyone hugs each other. pic.twitter.com/1XOFeswMiO

— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) May 22, 2020

Again, amazing.  The lack of integrity of these politicians is insane.  In future history books, words were written will not be so kind to those who show ignorance or deference to the cases and deaths caused by the Coronavirus. The last Tweet is from ABC News and displays the range of people (ages and abilities) that we have lost to this terrible virus over two months:

The first black woman to graduate from Harvard Law School, a 29-year veteran of the Boston Police Department—more than 90,000 people have died in the United States from the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic.

Remembering those who died from COVID-19: https://t.co/F5wnr3gs2i pic.twitter.com/sZNsK8z2BB

— ABC News (@ABC) May 25, 2020

Think about the talent lost to the virus shown in the video above.  Additionally, think about the carelessness of the people in the first video and second in regard to this terrible pandemic.  On which side do you want to be written about in history?  Take proactive measures to reduce the spread of the virus for yourself and others in society.  Be kind to those who are adversely impacted by the changing times facing the world during this pandemic.