The Pandemic Diaries - The Mask Slackers

Months. It's been months since COVID-19 has completely upended our lives. Here in the United States of America, we haven't done a great job of dealing with this pandemic. Ineffective leaders and conspiracy theories seem to be at the root of our being number 1 at cases and deaths in the world.

When everything started going to hell in March, I was hesitant to wear a mask. Scientists thought back then (which seems like a million years ago now) that masks didn't really help. But as they learned more about the disease, science proved that masks can greatly reduce the spread of the virus.

So I got some masks and started wearing them anytime I left the house. I have cloth masks so I can wash them. I even used my glue gun and some crafting wire to add to the mask to make it more snug around my nose. It's not perfect but it definitely keeps my glasses from fogging up less.

I hurt my foot in April and then hurt it worse about three weeks after the original injury. I ended up being off work for over a month because of it so I had a lot of time on my hands. I was reading a lot and I read an article about the parallels of the current pandemic and the Spanish Flu in the early 1900's. One thing that stuck with me was that people who refused to wear masks back then were called "mask slackers".

Ever since then, I've referred to those who refuse to wear a mask as mask slackers. It's such a simple thing to do to protect others, but a lot of people are just so against it. I am a glutton for punishment and I often read the comments on Facebook. The crazy on some of the comments is astounding.

Apparently some people think that masks are going to cause you to collapse because they think carbon dioxide won't be able to escape the mask and thus poison the wearer. Others think that wearing a mask is a sign that you are a sheep and being controlled (by whom, I'm not sure). Others claim they don't work at all so it's pointless to wear them, especially if you are 'healthy'.

All of these arguments have either been proven wrong by science or are just so ludicrous that I want to roll my eyes. Masks aren't perfect, but it does help slow the spread of this disease. Wearing a mask keeps my germs in my mask so it can't spread. Now you still have to wash your hands, resist touching your face, and wash or replace your mask after every use.

But because the mask slackers are selfish and won't mask up for the good of everyone, the virus rages on. I wear a mask for 8 hours during work and yeah, it's hot and annoying. But I don't want my coworkers getting this or my customers. Also my store requires us to wear it, which is something I'm glad of. I just wish they would enforce wearing of masks for the customers.

Anyway, please, please, please wear your mask. I really want it to be safe for my kid to go back to school and for life to return to some form of normalcy where I don't have to have panic attacks about being exposed to the virus before my work shifts.