Masks Work, Period.

The anti-mask movement in America is a sign of a profoundly troubled nation.

Peter Daou

Mar 3

A video is making the rounds of Florida’s rightwing governor Ron DeSantis berating students for wearing masks.

Peter Daou @peterdaou

#DeSantis is a piece of garbage. Yelling at kids for wearing masks in a pandemic.

WFLA NEWS @WFLA

'This is ridiculous': @GovRonDeSantis scolds students for wearing face masks during his @USouthFlorida visit https://t.co/v9XLjueCYi https://t.co/TFeC6t6wL9

Ashton Pittman @ashtonpittman

What a trash way to talk to kids for the sin of... wearing a mask during a pandemic. Ron DeSantis bears a lot of blame for the fact that over 70,000 Floridians have died of COVID-19. https://t.co/CfL7iWssZM

WFLA NEWS @WFLA

'This is ridiculous': @GovRonDeSantis scolds students for wearing face masks during his @USouthFlorida visit https://t.co/v9XLjueCYi https://t.co/TFeC6t6wL9

There is something deeply troubling about a political official scolding children for trying to protect themselves from a virus that has killed nearly a million Americans. A virus that continues to take thousands of lives every week. A virus that can have debilitating long-term effects. A virus that remains a deadly threat to older adults, the disabled, immunocompromised, those who can’t get vaccinated, and other at-risk populations.

As I wrote recently, it would be awful enough if Republican politicians were the only ones treating vulnerable people as throwaways. That’s to be expected from a callous, extremist, anti-science party. But disgustingly, Democratic leaders are following Republicans down the anti-mask and anti-mitigation path. And they’re doing it for crass political reasons.

Dr. Lucky Tran @luckytran

This is the clearest reasoning behind the change in CDC guidance, a few days before the #SOTU address. Politics over public health.

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur

In a recent memo, Biden's polling firm had some advice for Democrats: Declare victory against Covid and stop talking about restrictions or you'll lose the election. https://t.co/K6mFBMMUbB https://t.co/PhaL1UKxch

What’s more, millions of Americans are unwilling to take the simplest measures to protect their fellow citizens — out of some distorted notion of “personal freedom.” Is it really that hard to wear a mask to potentially spare someone else the agony of coronavirus? Is a mask really such an onerous burden?

The Cat Senate ⬅️⬆️ @TheCatSenate

@Hamletgarcia17 @GovRonDeSantis

Capitalism has trumped public health from the beginning of the pandemic. And politics has driven the pandemic strategies of both ruling parties. But the fact remains: MASKS WORK.

Trisha Greenhalgh #IStandWithUkraine 🇺🇦 @trishgreenhalgh

Let’s start with observational data. Countries that introduced mandated masking within 30 days of the first case (mostly Asian) had *dramatically* fewer Covid-19 cases than those that delayed beyond 100 days (mostly Western). ajtmh.org/view/journals/… 2/

Laurie Garrett @Laurie_Garrett

Masks work! Even blocking flu, whooping cough, and respiratory viruses....The unexpected impacts of #COVID19 precautions.

Infectious Diseases @InfectiousDz

Substantial decline in pertussis observed from April 2020 onwards, marking the lowest number of cases in the last decade in England. Vaccination has fallen slightly so as masks come off and mixing increases there's a risk for a whooping cough outbreak. https://t.co/iFgehsal9j

From the Washington Post:

Wearing any kind of mask indoors is associated with significantly better protection from the coronavirus, with high-quality N95 and KN95 masks providing the best chance of avoiding infection, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Friday. In indoor public settings, surgical masks reduce the chances of testing positive by 66 percent, the CDC estimated. Top-of-the-line N95 and KN95 masks, the tight fitting face coverings often worn by health-care workers, cut the odds of infection by 83 percent, the health agency said.

It’s basic human decency to care for our fellow citizens. The science is unequivocal that masks (particularly non-cloth masks) can reduce the risk of catching coronavirus. Despite all the self-centered and insensitive arguments otherwise, wearing a mask to help the most vulnerable is a good thing to do.