A protest in Henderson, Nev., on July 8 against the state’s mask mandate for public spaces because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Photo: John Locher/Associated PressWearing a face mask is a simple and effective way individuals can help slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, scientists say.
But a minority of Americans refuse to do so.
Some people cite personal freedom. Others falsely claim the coronavirus pandemic is a hoax. Some say they are uncomfortable wearing masks for a variety of personal reasons, while others’ distrust of government and science has been exacerbated, as the pandemic continues to upend everyday life in this country and around the world.
“It’s a joke,” said Joseph Lee, a 62-year-old in White Bear Lake, Minn. who wore a mask once to comply with rules to get a haircut. “All [mask wearing] does, I think, is gives people a false sense of hope.”
Leaders in 31 states and Washington, D.C., have issued statewide mandates requiring all residents to wear face coverings in public settings, with some exceptions. Elsewhere, state officials have strongly recommended face coverings. Last week, President Trump encouraged Americans to wear face-coverings in a post on Twitter—a shift in the president’s messaging months into the pandemic. Late Monday he retweeted a series of messages, including one containing a video praising hydroxychloroquine and saying masks aren’t needed.
A growing body of scientific research shows widespread mask-wearing can reduce the spread of droplets, helping prevent the transmission of the coronavirus.
Coronavirus Pandemic
- How Face Masks Work and Which Types Offer the Best Covid-19 Protection
- U.S. Coronavirus Infections Fall Below 60,000 for Second Straight Day
- Georgia Governor, Atlanta Mayor Make Headway in Fight Over Coronavirus Restrictions
- How Soon Will There Be a Covid-19 Vaccine?
- After Reopening, Coronavirus-Hit States Chart Their Own Paths to Close Up Again
- Back-to-College Plans Devolve Into a Jumble of Fast-Changing Rules
But varying recommendations from elected officials and health authorities in the early days of the pandemic helped sow confusion, psychologists say. In these uncertain times, individuals are also more likely to seek information from social consensus rather than scientific data. And a lack of personal experience with the disease is a factor.
“There’s a relatively small group of individuals who will act out when they feel like somebody’s trying to control their behavior,” said Vaile Wright, senior director of health-care innovation at the American Psychological Association.
Comparing June with July, more American voters, regardless of political affiliation, said they always wear masks when in public spaces outside of their homes, according to a recent WSJ/NBC News poll of registered voters. Some 74% of American voters said they always wear a mask, and 14% said they sometimes do. In June, 39% of Trump supporters said they always wore masks, compared with 54% in July For supporters of former Vice President Joe Biden, 84% said in June they wore masks, compared with 91% in July.
About 11% of American voters say they rarely or never wear a face mask. Some Trump supporters said the president’s encouragement to wear face coverings didn’t change their thoughts.
“It hasn’t swayed my opinion to wear a mask,” said Cody Adams, a 34-year-old pipe welder based in Arkansas.
Related Video
Local meetings in Utah, California, Idaho, Missouri and elsewhere have drawn some protests from residents against face masks. Videos shared widely online show customers refusing to comply with face-mask requirements in grocery stores and other businesses.
Ann Swasey, a 54-year-old living with her fiancé in Alabama, doesn’t wear a mask in part because covering her mouth triggers severe anxiety. She has considered crossing the state border to Florida to go grocery shopping. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, recently required face coverings in public. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, also a Republican, hasn’t, despite calls to do so.
“We’re just having quite a difficult time because of it,” said Ms. Swasey, frustrated she cannot enter certain stores without a mask.
Before California required residents to wear face coverings statewide, Orange County, Calif., weakened its mask mandate to a strong recommendation from an order after residents protested.
“The beautiful thing about our country is freedom does come first, and public health comes a distant, distant second, third, fourth, maybe 20th,” said Peggy Hall, an Orange County resident who has decried face mask requirements there and elsewhere.
STAY INFORMED
Get a coronavirus briefing six days a week, and a weekly Health newsletter once the crisis abates: Sign up here.
Unmasked residents in Utah County, home to Provo, Utah, packed an indoor county commissioners’ meeting earlier this month, furious over the governor’s order requiring students to wear face coverings in the coming school year. County Commissioner Tanner Ainge quickly ended the meeting.
“As elected officials, we can’t encourage this divisiveness and this rejection of science,” Mr. Ainge said in an interview. “It was obvious to me that was the decision we needed to make in that meeting to keep people safe.”
Write to Jennifer Calfas at Jennifer.Calfas@wsj.com
Copyright ©2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 87990cbe856818d5eddac44c7b1cdeb8
"some" - Google News
July 29, 2020 at 07:00PM
https://ift.tt/3gb8tw1
Why Won’t Some People Wear Face Masks? - The Wall Street Journal
"some" - Google News
https://ift.tt/37fuoxP
Shoes Man Tutorial
Pos News Update
Meme Update
Korean Entertainment News
Japan News Update
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Why Won’t Some People Wear Face Masks? - The Wall Street Journal"
Post a Comment