Mask Up!... Or Not?

[Filadendron/Getty Images]
[Filadendron/Getty Images]
The Great Mask Debate of 2020 seems to have been ushered in. I can't tell you how many times a day I see this debate arise on social media and even local television. And, all politics aside, I have decided to do some genuine research on the topic at hand and present my findings to up in an unbiased fashion. Here, are the PROS and CONS of wearing a debate during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic.


Let's start with the Pros:
  • Wearing a mask can help prevent those who are infected from spreading the virus (this has been proven in at least 198 countries, including Austria, the Czech Republic, and Slovkia, where when mandatory masking up was implemented, they saw drastic drops in deaths and contraction of the virus). 
  • A mask offers more protection to the person wearing it than not against the Coronavirus
  • The virus spreads through droplets when you speak those droplets form and a mask can prevent them from escaping
  • They're cute and can be a fun reflection of yourself!

And, here are the Cons:
  • They're uncomfortable
  • They can irritate your skin
  • It is hard to keep them on your child
  • If you are sick, masks may trap the illness in your mask forcing you to breathe it back in instead of allowing it to escape
  • It is believed that they can promote "airway resistance, accumulation of carbon dioxide, hypoxia or inadequate oxygen supply, headaches, and even other life-threatening complications" (Sciencetimes.com, 2020) when worn for extended periods of time (these studies were based on users wearing an N95 mask, however, not a cloth one)
There are undoubtedly some pros and cons to both wearing a mask and opting not to. Unfortunately, with such little information and research being conducted on wearing them in correlation to COVID-19, nothing can be proven either way. However, numbers speak volumes, and the number of countries who saw such positive results in getting control of Coronvirus when citizens were forced to wear them, really speaks volumes. 

In my humble opinion, it's better to be safe than sorry, if we're going to see any positive steps forward in eliminating this horrendous virus, we need to practice the Three W's: Wash Your Hands, Watch Your Distance, and Wear a Mask. 

What are your thoughts? Do you (or are you considering) wear a mask?

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