Compare and Contrast Mask Mandates
Mask mandating was a controversial topic during the 2020-2021 Covid-19 pandemic. Diverse views were expressed. In community settings, masks were required during this time frame in most states. The covid-19 virus was spread through aerosolized droplets; however, when worn appropriately, it was reported that covering the face via masks or other methods limited the spread of aerosolized droplets by entrapping them within their fibers (Binka et al., 2023). While taking a stance on mask mandates is thought to be cut and dry, it is not. Many factors must be considered, such as a person’s right to choose, complications from wearing masks for extended periods, locations where masks were worn, age, and the individual’s health status. Masks were prominently required in places such as indoor settings, healthcare locations and grocery stores. Dining establishments were particularly strict; however, the masks were removed while people consumed food or beverages, making it counterproductive. Sound ethical analysis should be evaluated to ensure that the risks versus benefits are weighed and that infringement on individual choices is considered (Binka et al., 2023). Gaining herd immunity was a strong belief for many who opposed masks. While mask wearing was shown to be beneficial for certain vulnerable populations, it should not have been mandated in public settings. People should have the right to make a personal choice regarding whether wearing a mask was an appropriate means of protection against this virus.
Advocacy Groups that Shape Policy
A study by Taylor & Asmundson (2021) assessed negative attitudes toward mask mandates by employing a comprehensive empirical investigation of the nature that correlates to anti-mask attitudes. This article addressed reasons that people opposed mask-wearing during the pandemic, which were found to be linked to the belief that masks were not effective, that people found them uncomfortable, some believed masks caused difficulty breathing, others had problems installing a habit of mask-wearing, some groups had a lack of apprehension about the virus, others believed the virus was being politicized or exaggerated, and some felt that mandating masks were a violation of civil liberties (Taylor & Asmundson, 2021). These groups participated in anti-mask rallies throughout many cities during the COVID-19 pandemic, creating opposition to mask-mandating policies.
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides global health and safety recommendations. This organization has performed research and guided global disease monitoring and prevention for decades. During the pandemic’s beginning, the WHO recommended that the public refrain from wearing masks due to the shortage of supplies for healthcare workers (Taylor & Asmundson, 2021). The WHO and other health authorities also asserted that masks were ineffective for the general public due to the thought that masks provided a false sense of security; they also proclaimed that the use of masks would lead people to touch their faces more frequently, thus raising their chances of acquiring infection (Taylor & Asmundson, 2021).
Legislative Policy Initiatives for Mask Mandates
While at the height of the pandemic during the 2021 surge, statewide bans on school mask mandates were issued even though this opposed public health recommendations founded on prior evidence-based research (Yang et al., 2022). Florida and Texas’s governors initiated executive orders to ban mask mandates; however, at that time, the courts found that these orders either surpassed their authority or did not comply with the law regarding granting the executive order (Yang et al., 2022). Alternate efforts were utilized on state and federal levels to fight mandates and allow the public to choose whether to wear masks at their discretion. Moreover, the debate on mask mandates led to opposing opinions on whether mask-wearing benefits specific populations, such as children who are at lower risk of life-threatening complications due to the Covid-19 virus.
References
Binka, M., Adu, P.A., Jeong, D., Vadlamudi, N.K., Velásquez GarcÃa, H.A., Mahmood, B., Buller-Taylor, T., Otterstatter, M., & Janjua, N.Z. (2023). The impact of mask mandates on face mask use during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal survey study. JMIR Public Health Surveill. 2023 Jan 11;9:e42616. doi: 10.2196/42616. PMID: 36446134; PMCID: PMC9838719.
Taylor, S. & Asmundson, G.J.G. (2021). Negative attitudes about facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic: The dual importance of perceived ineffectiveness and psychological reactance. PLoS One. 2021 Feb 17;16(2):e0246317. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0246317. PMID: 33596207; PMCID: PMC7888611.
Yang, Y.T., DeRoo, S.S., & Morain, S.R. (2022). State mask mandate bans for schools: Law, science, and public health. Pediatrics. 2022 Jan 1;149(1):e2021054724. doi: 10.1542/peds.2021-054724. PMID: 34972218; PMCID: PMC9645701.
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