There is much discussion and even argument about the wearing of masks during this Covid-19 pandemic.
On one side are those who are convinced they feel safer with everyone, including themselves. wearing a mask. On the other side are those that loudly complain that it is in breach of their freedoms, or constitutional rights.
It seems to me though, that even if wearing a mask helps a little bit, it’s a help. Even if the risk is only reduced slightly it’s still a reduction.
The point that I’ve not heard mentioned though is this. If wearing a mask reduces transmission of infectious diseases (even if only slightly) it will not only reduce the spread of Covid-19 but, moving on into the fall and winter, when the colder months allow other diseases to run rampant, it will surely help to reduce the spread of those too.
There are those people that love to quote the deaths caused by influenza in a typical year compared with Covid-19. If more people wear masks more of the time, it follows that we’ll have less deaths from influenza too.
Perhaps though, for some, it’s more important to have that freedom; the freedom to infect others?