Amidst this global pandemic, it seems like wearing a face mask is one thing that everybody is doing. In California, wearing a face mask has become a mandate, an official order to do something by the governor. However, is wearing a mask just another mandate driven by popular demand, or is it really vital to preventing the spread of COVID-19? Wearing a face mask is definitely more than a fad and is necessary during a global pandemic where symptoms are flu-like and the virus is easy to spread. Let’s dive into the facts of what a face mask does and why it is essential to wear one.

First of all, face masks don’t have to be a chore to wear. If you feel like the standard one use face mask is uncomfortable, you can just purchase one that is more comfortable and breathable. There are many people who post videos of themselves on Facebook refusing to wear masks because they are unable to breathe. This is a simple issue that can be resolved if they tried out different face masks. 

A handful of people also believe that masks do not offer any protection in stopping the spread of COVID-19. This is absolutely false as COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets and a face mask acts as a barrier, preventing any droplets from getting through. A recent study by Health Affairs also showed that after a state started implementing mandatory face masks, the daily COVID-19 cases in the state began to slow down as a result. After the first five days, the daily rate of the cases dropped by 0.9%, and by three weeks, the daily growth rate slowed down by 2%. Face masks are definitely making a difference in the prevention of the virus.

Another instance where a face mask helped the lives of many people was on a flight from China to Toronto where a man showed symptoms of COVID-19 and eventually tested positive after his flight. Even though the man had a dry cough, he was wearing a mask. As a result, the 25 people close to him all tested negative after the flight. When traveling in large groups, people definitely need to wear masks as it can be the difference between life and death during a pandemic. 

Finally, if masks are so important at stopping transmission of the virus, why doesn’t everybody just wear one? Well even after all of this scientific data, some people still just do not believe in the need to have a mask. It is unfortunate to see this because if face masks are not mandated for everybody, quarantine will continue to last longer. The number of cases in the U.S. is above six million now and still continuing to rise. Hopefully, face masks will soon be required nationally and not just in some mandated states, and the spread of the virus will begin to decline.