The COVID-19 Masking Mosaic!
All around us we’ve been getting used to
seeing people masking themselves in most unique ways: some loosening it a bit
lower so that the nose remains prominently exposed as if they’ve only now
realized the importance of this organ as far as inhaling oxygen and exhaling
nitrogen is concerned; some are still bolder wearing it like a necklace hanging
below their chins; some even the more bolder keeping it in pocket or bags and
wearing it the moment the law-enforcing authorities surface; and similar to
this class some others do the same while entering shopping complexes or the
like where ‘no mask, no entry’ signboard is prominently displayed and the
moment they enter they quickly say to the sellers that they have the masks, no
issues (in fact the mostly masked sellers or shopkeepers should not just smile
understandingly at them, but should command, ‘if you have it, why not wear?’).
The elderly citizens have not been
complaining much as they realize the undeniable fact that they are the most
vulnerable chunk of the population to get infected. However, vaccination in the
full required doses makes them a little bolder in starting to complain if not
in not abandoning the masks altogether. They often refer to some doctors (we’re
not aware if they were real or fictitious) advising them not to wear the masks
while taking morning or evening walks as it may adversely affect the breathing
process. But many elders including myself have not experienced any discomfort
in taking the walks with the masks on. So, some of them do not wear it at all
and some demonstrate the other styles of wearing like keeping the nose out or
using it as a necklace.
The young male community happens to be
the ultimate example in violating this mask-wearing business with absolute disdain,
particularly after getting vaccinated. Their basic instinct of impressing the
fairer opposites is a huge factor, because with half of their faces hidden they
cannot at all afford to display their handsome characteristics as well as some
other ‘impressive’ activities or habits. Their ‘brave’ and ‘chivalrous’ display
is abundantly displayed on the streets, in the markets, in the parks or playing
grounds and while riding the ‘brave-heart’ racing bikes, not only putting other
lives in danger of being hit but also of spreading the disease. We call them
the future of a country, but they miserably fail to understand their duty
towards all in families or the other community outside or inside.
There is a very crucial mask-fatigue
causing factor that affects all of the communities mentioned: this being the prolonged
summer thanks to global warming that leads to accumulation of sweat inside the
masks and makes it extremely uncomfortable to wear continuously. But, why not
carry more than one mask with you, remove it when unbearable, wipe you face
with a sanitized handkerchief and wear the second mask; we rebut. There are
huge quantities of economically affordable masks available in the market. Besides,
the sweat-factor also comes in while traveling/going out, unnecessarily and
crowding the trains or the metro trains or the flights or the buses or the
markets; like when during the Durga Puja festival the ‘eat-only devotees’
crowded the fronts of the houseful restaurants in the Indian city of Kolkata in
particular, waiting for hours at the dead of the night, and of course, not
caring for the masks due to the seamless sweating or that they’d have to take
it off anyway once getting inside to eat. There is a general agreement on this
that one cannot eat with the masks on.
The governments or the authorities have
been in the act of making the wearing of masks compulsory all the time with
some having to impose penalties for violations. Authorities also observe mask-behavior
patterns and order that ‘don’t wear the masks below your nose or like a
necklace’. But unfortunately, the citizens of Planet Earth feel that ‘enough is
enough’ and the ‘unmasking process’ must be ushered in by hook or by crook. In India
with the Diwali festival looming ahead this mask-fatigue could, on the
contrary, usher in another peak of the pandemic reversing the desired ‘unmasking’
process completely, God forbid. States of India always ban firecrackers during
Diwali celebration, but allow ‘green crackers’ the ambiguity of a definition of
which leads to the usual pollution and crowds with undaunted ‘fire-power’ on
display as seen last year.
We must conclude with a disclaimer that no
generalization is intended in this piece. In fact, a huge chunk of the
population still follows the norms like wearing a mask very sincerely,
including people in all the communities mentioned here. The only concern is
that of the increasing numbers of the ‘unmasked Covidiots’ all over who put the
norms-abiding population at risk. To assume a serious tone at the end, it is
medically proved that vaccine jabs do not guarantee full protection from
infection, but only reduce the serious type of the disease and hospitalization;
but people with multiple other diseases and low immunity are still at high risk
and the careless young people endanger their lives by carrying the virus and
spreading it.
Comments