It is currently the eighth month that Americans have had to suffer through the coronavirus, with restrictions still in place on where people can go, who they can spend time with and what they are required to wear when they go out. While the mandates of social distancing and hygiene awareness (washing hands, using sanitizer) are helping fight this pandemic, there are also mandates that don’t do enough to prevent people from getting COVID-19.
From the early outbreaks of coronavirus in America to the increasing number of states that joined in creating mandates, masks have been proposed as the universal killer of coronavirus.
“Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus,“ CDC Director Dr. Robert Redfield stated. The CDC also has claimed that wearing masks will defeat the spread of coronavirus.
What if the constant reports and reassurances from government and medical officials were just a shot in the dark? This question must be pondered because some of the numbers don’t support the claims, by the CDC and the government, that mask wearing reduces and stops the spread of COVID-19.
By July 22nd, more than half of the U.S. states, including Ohio, had mandates in effect requiring people to have face masks on in all public places (stores, restaurants, zoos, parks, theaters, etc.) and when social distancing was not an achievable requirement. However, even though Americans can’t go out without a mask, the numbers are not on a downward trajectory as was advertised.
It is to be expected that there would be an immediate result of increased case numbers after businesses reopened and the isolation from society was lifted. However, with businesses like movie theaters closed and many places of education offering courses remotely, it is important to note that after the adjustment period, case numbers are only going up.
Looking at the number of cases across all 50 states, the data shows that within the 3.5 months before the mask mandates of July 22, there were over 3.3 million cases reported. The 3.5 months following the mandatory use of face coverings in public saw more than 5.4 million new cases reported. So rather than on decline or maintaining a steady rate of cases, the numbers within the last 3.5 months are higher than the 3.5-month period before the mask mandates took effect in the majority of the U.S.
However, these numbers could be skewed, and it is important to note an adjustment period should be given for the months of June-August, since this is when the U.S. began to open up and people started to venture out of isolation for work, school and pleasure. Even after noting an adjustment period of two months for the numbers to properly showcase that masks are working, the number of new cases after that period are still very much alarming.
Within the last 30 days alone, the U.S. daily average for new cases has rose 29.1%. Closer to home, within the last 21 days, Ohio has recorded over 3,398 new cases per day, which is also the highest number of cases in a month for Ohio since the outbreak began in march.
An argument that some make is that masks are working, because the positivity rate for testing is much lower in Ohio, and all of the U.S. than when the outbreak began. The problem with that argument is that of course it is lower. When testing first started, the U.S. was doing roughly 100,000 tests each day with positivity rates fluctuating between 10-20%. Now, the U.S. is recording over a million tests a day with positivity rates fluctuating between 4-6%. These rates are equivalent if not higher than when testing began at the beginning of the pandemic.
Another argument is that not every state has instituted a mask mandate, which is a factually true argument. However, as stated earlier, even the states with mask mandates are reporting record numbers of new cases. So while the states without mandates are contributing to the rise in cases, the states with the mandates are equally contributing to the numbers.
Take Ohio, for example. July 22 was the day Gov. Mike DeWine issued a mask requirement for the state. What led to this decree was the fact that within the two months before this order, 47,048 new coronavirus cases were reported in the state. However, against the promises of government and health officials, the number of new cases within the last 3.5 months has surpassed 100,000 with case numbers and positivity rates going on a trend upwards.
If this is the new normal, then mask mandates must be either revised or eliminated, for the number of new cases is surely to continue to rise. This leads to a problem that must be addressed but can’t be proven with the current statistics: Are masks giving people a false sense of security that going into crowded places is OK, even with everyone using a face covering?
If masks are not working in slowing and stopping the spread, which data suggests they may not be, then unless people become aware of the dangers and uselessness of the masks, this false sense of security could drive more people to catch it and suffer from the dangers that coronavirus gives.
Brandon Bowers is a senior studying English Pre-Law at Ohio University. Please note that the views and opinions of the columnists do not reflect those of The Post. What are your thoughts? Tell Brandon by tweeting him at @UnabashedlyBMB.
