The wearing of masks to prevent the spread of Covid-19, sadly, has not been without its share of controversy, with WHO itself flip-flopping on its position on the efficacy of mask-wearing, and powerful world leaders such as Donald Trump proudly flouting them until very recently.
But we can no longer wallow in confusion and ambiguity regarding the matter. As far as our knowledge of Covid-19 goes, it is true that we are still learning, but as a whole, a population that wears masks will see a slower spread of the virus.
This claim is backed up statistically: A newly released study from various researchers in the field shows that countries that recommended masks at the start of the outbreak have seen significantly fewer Covid-19 deaths. For many, the results will come only as statistical confirmation of what seems obvious.
There is no reason now for even the naysayers to not get on board. Masks -- masks of any quality -- could potentially prevent infection and save lives, and the cost of putting on one is merely the discomfort of wearing it. Untold amounts of money are now being spent to try to contain this crisis, and masks are the most effective and affordable step we can take on an individual level to do our part.
No doubt, those who proudly shun masks are making things harder for everyone else by aiding the spread of the virus. It is time we all took responsibility and donned those masks properly, that is, covering both mouth and nose.
