Masks have started to silence us
Even to the point of deciding whether masks are needed to control a pandemic, the world remains divided. Following Asian countries, more countries are changing its position in the use of masks given the growing number of locally transmitted and unliked cases. It is a strategy that may be needed in the current context, where contact tracing for linked clusters are no longer sustainable, no matter how small the cluster is. Should other nations try to adapt the same contact tracing approach as Asian countries are currently doing, the bus has already left the stop. Context changes fast in this pandemic.
A documentary aired by Japan’s leading broadcaster NHK has shown that droplets can also be easily transmitted even when the person is just speaking or laughing, not even by sneezing or coughing. With this, the coronavirus, transmitted by micro-droplets, can potentially live in air-conditioning units of small, contained places, such as restaurants or clinics. Logically, it explains the need why we should probably wear masks, thereby covering the riskiest part of our respiratory system — our nose and mouth.
Should masks give a sense of security in a future that is unknown, then we should grab the only freedom we have left. Circuit Breakers, Enhanced Community Quarantines (ECQ) or Movement Control Orders (MCO) — whichever replacement terminologies or acronyms you give “Lockdowns” — our freedom is restricted, for our safety and for the good of humanity. By not gathering in public places, we limit our exposure to asymptomatic cases. By not socializing, we relieve the burdens from health care workers risking their lives 24/7 just to save the world. By staying at home, we put the world on a pause and hopefully, just hopefully we get to flatten the curve.
All of these are acceptable, sure. We look forward to the day that restrictions are lifted, but perhaps not immediate, but a gradual return to our “normal” lives. (Remember, there is no such thing as Business as Usual or Normal anymore.) Deep down inside, perhaps, we crave the restrictions governments are imposing on us. We have seen the lives lost and don’t want to add to the statistics.
Have you pictured what the year 2021 will look like? Will you be more open to drinking a cup of coffee in your local neighborhood coffee shop using their coffee mugs? Will you hesitate when your fingers accidentally touch the staff ringing your groceries? Will you ever want to touch a subway pole with your bare hands? Will you ever talk freely with a friend or two, catching up on what has happened since the lockdown — or will you most likely be wearing a mask every day?
Instagrammers have started to proliferate trends once again with $60 masks. Capitalism is still rooted in our culture despite the coronavirus’ efforts to break down our society. I bet a lot of us will want to wear the latest trend, just as we have never really let go of athleisure and dad sneakers. Why not? The mask matches the rest of the floral, plaid trends, in time for whichever season. It is not a big surprise that LVMH and H&M have jumped on the mask bandwagon. Would these make a dent for humanity?
Now that you have seen where we are headed, things are starting to become clearer. Masks, in whatever form, are already a necessity. It covers our most vital part of the body. It has silenced us.
Yes, we don’t need to come to the office and have meetings. We can do it over tiny Zoom meetings, no matter how noisy the background is. We don’t need to check on our friends in person. We can do it over HouseParty. Can 30 people fit in one video call? How about 50? A 100? What about conferences of incredible scale such as Apple WWDC or Google I/O that normally house over 5000 people every year? Surely, we don’t really need to exchange ideas, don’t we? Is it a necessity?
We know so little of the virus, yet the virus know so much about us. It is slowly silencing us, our voice, our capacity to grow. We gave in without knowing. It is slowly giving authoritarianism a try, a draconian world a try. Because sadly, we thought we needed it.
