We are almost a full year into this pandemic. One full year. I can’t believe this is something we still have to talk about.

I don’t understand how and why wearing a mask became political. We have the scientific evidence that proves that mask wearing is effective in not spreading this deadly virus. The NYC health commissioner was basically fired for not telling the NYPD that face masks are important fast enough (Miss you Oxiris Barbot). But people have decided that they don’t want to wear masks because…what? They don’t like Dr. Fauci? They think doctors and scientists are liars? We have conclusive evidence that this virus is not a hoax. If it hasn’t affected you personally, you probably know (at least) one person it has affected. 

Everyone in public health, health care, and science has been telling us that masks help protect both you and those around you. So why not wear one? I understand it’s not comfortable. When I worked for the census I was wearing a mask for 8 hours a day while riding around town on my bike in the August sun. I get it. But I wore my mask because it was important while I was out of my house. I didn’t want to get sick, and I didn’t want to pass anything to my family or someone I was interviewing. It was an easy way to show kindness to myself and those around me. If anything it just proves that you are capable of empathy. If somehow it comes out that masks didn’t prove effective then at least I took the precautions to help and protect the people around me. 

Now let’s move onto one of my biggest pet peeve. The mask goes over your nose. If you don’t know already, germs and viruses can enter your body through your nose. If you’re just learning this…I would love to be where you have been through this whole thing. In what world would a mask be useful to just have your nose hanging out. Do you not breathe through your nose? This is not a call out post for people who pull it under their nose for a few minutes away from people after they’ve been wearing it all day. This is also not a call out for people who will preemptively put on a mask and then put it under their nose/mouth while they are in the car or they aren’t around people. This is specifically for people who never wear it over their nose. If you can’t handle wearing a mask over your nose in the grocery store, you shouldn’t be at the grocery store.

I don’t want to be ableist. But the people who can’t wear a mask for a real medical condition are very few and far between. If someone can’t wear a mask for a real medical condition and have been told by a medical professional that they shouldn’t wear one, fine. But then we need to help those people while wearing a mask and staying away from them. However, the majority of people do not fall into that category. 

So throw out those stupid fake medical cards, put your mask over your nose, and start caring about the people around you.