A Good Mask is Nothing to Sneeze At

By SAM URETSKY

While the COVID-19 pandemic is spreading to states that previously had modest infection rates, a number of studies have indicated that wearing masks is the most effective single thing people can do to reduce the spread of the disease.

In one interview, UC San Francisco epidemiologist George Rutherford said “ In one simulation, researchers predicted that 80 percent of the population wearing masks would do more to reduce COVID-19 spread than a strict lockdown.”

Unfortunately, while a recent Gallup poll found that while 86% of respondents claimed to have worn masks during the previous week, 25% took a casual approach to mask-wearing, saying they “sometimes,” “rarely” or “never” wear one. Last April, when the level of concern was at its highest, the percentage answering “sometimes,” rarely” or “never” was only 7%. To some extent, mask wearing has become a political statement, with many people feeling that mask mandates impose on their freedom of choice, and the government has no right to tell them what to do. Another reason might be that President Trump, until his visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, never wore a mask in public. The mask he wore was solid black, with the seal of the President of the United States tastefully set on the left side. Role models count for a lot.

While the partisan divide may close as the infection rate increases, the choice, mask vs. no mask, remains divisive. The New York Times reported (7/23/20) “This month, Republican groups in eight (Texas) counties censured the Republican governor after he issued a statewide mask order, saying that it infringed on their rights.” In Kentucky, the Republican Attorney General Daniel Cameron is fighting the Democratic governor’s mask mandate, and so far has won in Circuit Court where the Judge wrote “”Individuals, not government, should decide if the risk of walking out their front door is worth the potential reward.”

Meanwhile, companies have found that selling masks has a big reward. Since masks are essential, companies that can make masks do, which lets them stay in business while other firms had to close their doors. LL Bean, known for its outdoor goods, converted a factory where they make boots to a mask factory, using the fabric that they used to use as a liner in dog beds. Coach, which is known for “affordable luxury” sells face masks at $18 each, or would have if they hadn’t been sold out when last checked. Brooks Brothers, home of the button down shirt, has masks that are “ Proudly crafted in the USA, our masks are sewn in our own factories using a state-of-the-art, lightweight non-woven material that filters 95% of particles based on FDA-required filtration-efficiency testing.” All the companies checked are donating the profits from the sale of masks to a worthy charity.

The maker of Louisville Slugger bats is also the maker of Bionic Gloves, and is using that factory to make masks that are treated with an antibacterial that’s good for up to 10 washes. Neiman Marcus, purveyor of unaffordable luxury goods, has masks at up to $35. Etsy, which sells vintage items and home crafted items has dozens of mask suppliers at different styles and prices. Then GQ reported, “As the White House has pivoted to recommending that Americans cover their face with masks—with the addendum that one can make do with a scarf—the silk scarf has emerged as a new defensive accessory, the kind of small gesture of glamour that boosts morale in times of crisis. … And not just any silk scarves: ‘People are going ham on Hermès scarves,’ observed Garage editor Laia Garcia on Twitter earlier this week. She was onto something: during the week of March 29, searches for Hermès silk scarves grew 1.3 times over all silk scarves from the previous week ...”

As for which masks are best, a team from Florida Atlantic University created a sneezing manikin to see how far a sneeze would travel. They only tested masks that were available to the general public:

Mask type Material Threads/in. Avg jet distance

Uncovered… ~8 ft

Bandana Elastic T-shirt material 85 ~3 ft 7 in.

Folded handkerchief Cotton 55 ~1 ft 3 in.

Stitched mask Quilting cotton 70 ~2 ft. 5 in.

Commercial mask Unknown Assorted fibers ~8 in.

For the record, official Trump2020store.com has approximately 20 different designs including one that says “Jesus is my Savior, Trump is my President.” In contrast, the Joe Biden store has only one style, and it just says “Biden.” Plus “For every mask purchased, the campaign is donating an additional, unbranded mask to a worthy organization.”

Sam Uretsky is a writer and pharmacist living in Louisville, Ky. Email sdu01@outlook.com.

From The Progressive Populist, September 1, 2020

Populist.com