I have had face masks for decades because in Korea, we have been wearing them for decades to protect ourselves from the sun, pollution, to protect others from germs. So when the pandemic started, I already had a handful of different masks. Because Korea has been using these masks for so long, they already had several layers, with spaces for filter inserts and even designs. I had been wearing facemasks in planes for over 10 years by the time the pandemic began.
When the virus first spread, to keep PPE available to health care workers, N95 masks were discouraged for public use. I switched between different Korean masks. One was a ventilator mask from Korea, which I liked because of how tight they are around your face and how easy it is to exhale. But the flaw here is that they still have ventilators, and they’re made of a combination of mesh and mask. They’re also not the most helpful for everyday all-day use. And at this stage of the pandemic, everyone was staring at me already for being Asian, so wearing a mask in public as an Asian was all about getting dirty racist looks and harassment.
The summer uprisings showed entire movements understanding the importance of and need for masks. This stage in the pandemic finally brought different types of masks into the U.S., with different ways of wearing loops around one’s head or ears. There are some really fancy straps on many masks.
There was a drop in cases, and that led to an ease in some of the materials and methods of masks. U.S. manufacturers started getting better at functionality and comfort. Masks were more easily accessible to more, with much more variety.
Then Delta surged, and we were reminded to wear masks that could filter out smaller microns, that they should have multiple layers. A nose bridge was a must, and ensuring all sides of the mask were sealed became standard. This is also when you could see the gradual chasm between people who were wearing masks to stop the spread of Covid, and those who were wearing masks only because they were told they had to wear masks.
For many months, we navigated through inconsistent regulations and practices, and the responsibility of finding out what felt safe was up to each individual and their choice of masks. Some went back to thinner masks, some bulked up on thicker masks. There was a lot of experimentation.
When Omicron spread, the need to filter out even more microns became a priority, because of its high transmissibility. The current recommendation is to wear N95 masks, which of course, as with Covid tests, are often tricky to find. Health agencies have fumbled through their understanding of masks. Interestingly enough, I now switch between my first Korean masks (because they have filters, are multi-layered, and are comfortable) and N95 masks depending on where I am and what I’m doing.
Because I was already wearing masks before the pandemic, no matter what happens with this pandemic, I will continue to wear masks in some capacity or another. And as has always been, masks are not just to protect yourself, they are to protect everyone. I am certain the way we see masks is a permanent change and part of our history globally.
May we understand the importance of Interdependence for all of our lives. Mask up, family.
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