 A Universal Mask Mandate Could Make America Safe Again! In the first blog on face masks I examined the mixed messages surrounding the use of face masks by the general public, and the politicizing of the issue. In this blog I will review the issue of mandating the universal use of face masks, and the types of masks being used. No National Mask Mandate: Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the president’s corona virus task force, has said many times that universal mask wearing is fundamental to stopping the spread of the coronavirus. But the president is against a national mask mandate, implying that it would deny Americans certain freedoms. Yes, we do enjoy many rights and freedoms in this country, but with rights come responsibilities. We are responsible for the safety of our communities and for each other. The president’s best chance of getting reelected is to step up, unite the country, and show true leadership in the fight against COVID-19. Turning the economy around wouldn’t hurt either, and here is where he has a real opportunity. A June 29, 2020 report by Goldman Sachs Research: https://www.goldmansachs.com/insights/pages/face-masks-and-gdp.html, shows evidence that a national mask mandate would reduce the need for broad lockdowns, slow the spread of the coronavirus, and increase GDP. You would think that this would be music to the president’s ears, particularly coming from a conservative institution like Goldman Sachs. But apparently not. A significant portion of individuals with COVID-19 lack symptoms and don’t know they are infected. This is why cloth face masks are most likely to reduce the spread of the virus when they are widely used in public settings. Research published by the “Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences” examined COVID-19 hotspots in China, Italy and New York City. The research concluded that mandatory use of face coverings significantly reduced the number of infections in these areas, https://www.pnas.org/content/117/26/14857/tab-article-info . The researchers also conclude that “other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the U.S., are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public”. Since the president won’t put in place a national mandate for the use of face masks, it is up to the individual states to do so, and many have.  As of July 31, 2020, approximately 34 states and the District of Columbia have issued some form of mask mandate. There are several sites that are reporting on up to date mask mandates. CNN has a good site, with the specific mandates for each state: https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/19/us/states-face-mask-coronavirus-trnd/index.html . Another website that closely monitors mask requirements in individual states, as well as other countries is: https://masks4all.co/. Of note is the fact that the nation’s COVID-19 epicenter is now Florida, which does not have a statewide mask mandate. This exemplifies the haphazard and ad-hoc way in which the U.S. has approached the pandemic from the start, and it has been an unmitigated failure. We are over six months in, and rather than making progress, the country is sliding backwards. Mandating the universal wearing of face masks is much less painful, and much less costly, than shutting the economy down again. It is up to each citizen to do their part. National leadership on this issue is nowhere to be seen. Not all Face Masks are Created Equal: The coronavirus spreads mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice. Medical masks, such as N95s, protect health care workers from catching coronavirus from infected people. Medical masks are regulated medical devices and are categorized as PPE (personal protective equipment). Medical masks should be reserved for health care workers. Cloth face coverings mainly prevent people who have COVID-19 from spreading the virus to others. Let’s take a closer look at these mask types.  N95 Respirator (N95s): This type of mask filters out 95% of airborne particles. It is designed to achieve a tight fit and is very efficient at filtering out airborne particles. The CDC does not recommend this type of mask for the general public due to critical shortages. N95s are reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders. They are designed not to be shared or reused, although some decontamination procedures do exist. The FDA has more information on N95s at this link: https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/personal-protective-equipment-infection-control/n95-respirators-surgical-masks-and-face-masks.  Surgical Masks: These are loose fitting and create a physical barrier to prevent airborne contaminants from coming into contact with the nose and mouth. Like the N95, the CDC considers surgical masks to be critical PPE and are not recommended for use by the general public. Surgical masks come in various thicknesses, and are meant to be single use. Like the N95, surgical masks are regulated by the Federal Government.  Cloth Facial Coverings (Masks): These are also known as non-medical and fabric masks. They are not considered PPE and are not appropriate substitutes for N95s or surgical masks. Cloth masks are recommended by the CDC for use by the general public to help reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Cloth masks are now available at many online and brick and mortar stores. Many people (including my wife) make their own masks at home. The CDC website has a tutorial on making your own cloth face mask, as well as caring for them: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-to-make-cloth-face-covering.html. Cloth masks come in a variety of different fabrics (silk, polyester, cotton, felted wool), layering sequences, and shapes. Fabrics with higher thread counts offer better protection, and the more layers of cloth, the better. The WHO has reported on the filtration efficiency, and other considerations on a number of fabrics used in cloth masks: https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/332293/WHO-2019-nCov-IPC_Masks-2020.4-eng.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y .  It is not required, but the addition of a filter between the layers of cloth adds an additional measure of protection. Some masks are made with a pocket so that filters may be added and removed. The best filters are made from polypropylene HEPA vacuum bags, or AC filters made from the same material. Another common filter is polyester interfacing, available at most fabric stores. Interfacing is a material used to strengthen and stabilize fabrics, and can be cut to size. Coffee filters and paper towels are sometimes used as well, but need to be changed before each use. According to a recent study, a minimum of two layers, and preferably three, are required to prevent the dispersal of droplets from an infected person. A summary of the study, along with video evidence, can be found at https://www.cnn.com/videos/app-health-section/2020/07/23/mask-test-study-wellness.cnn. The WHO also advises that fabric masks should consist of at least three layers of different material: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks .
Other types of facial coverings that offer limited protection include bandanas, scarves and neck tubes or Buffs. The CDC recommends that cloth face masks be washed after each use. COVID-19 is caused by a novel (new) coronavirus, and our knowledge about it is increasing daily. We need to heed the advice of the scientific and medical communities, not politicians.  The biggest decision of my day is which mask to wear! Don’t leave home without one. If you want a good laugh, and who doesn’t these days, check out this great video from Randy Rainbow: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kOesPt7iBY . If you enjoy reading this type of commentary please subscribe to my blog and tell a friend. You will receive an email notification when new blogs are posted. The email will come from the site’s email: armchairamerican1776@gmail.com. Thanks, Armchair American
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