Masks our new accessory

As of June 18, we have a new look when we're in public. Call it the masked look or the mysterious look, we're now required to wear masks in public when social distancing of six feet away is impossible. Most residents in every Californian county are expected to wear face coverings or masks when we're in public and not able to stay at least six feet away from others. That includes whether we're outside, at an indoor public space or in a work space visited by the public, regardless of whether any public members are there at the time. We were first asked on April 2 to wear facial coverings outside when the Placer County Health Department recommended we cover our noses and mouths to protect others from potentially catching COVID-19 from us. And 11 weeks later, on June 18, the state public health department's order required everyone, with a few exceptions listed in the accompanying story, to immediately wear face coverings when social distancing is not possible. "Simply put, we are seeing too many people with faces uncovered, putting at risk the real progress we have made in fighting the disease," said California Gov. Gavin Newsom on June 18. "California's strategy to restart the economy and get people back to work will only be successful if people act safely and follow health recommendations. That means wearing a face covering, washing your hands and practicing physical distancing." But wearing masks or face coverings is not natural to most of us, unless we work in healthcare where they're commonplace. It takes a while to get used to having something covering the lower part of our faces so we disregarded the county's public health recommendation. Even during the last two weeks, as the number of COVID-19 cases in Placer County rapidly increased, the majority of residents in public were mask-free. According to a Placer County reopened-businesses survey from June 4 to June 6 with 2,896 respondents, 59.4 percent or 1,656 respondents want employees to wear face coverings. And 49.8 percent or 2,790 respondents want other customers to wear the coverings. The survey also reported that 53.4 percent or 1,476 respondents say that most businesses visited are doing a good job of encouraging wearing the coverings and social distancing. About 15.5 percent or 428 respondents said that most businesses they visit are not doing a good job of encouraging the coverings and social distancing. Of the 2,896 respondents, 41.5 percent or 1,158 responders said they wear a face covering. Those uncomfortable wearing the face coverings say they feel claustrophobic, have difficulty breathing or can't talk with them on. But the practice of wearing masks has been around for centuries. During the 1918 global flu epidemic, doctors and nurses wore masks for protection and many cities required residents to wear them in public. In the 1920s, masks became standard in operating rooms. Fast forward to today and masks are used by doctors, dentists, nurses and technicians during office visits. Los Angeles residents wore gas masks to combat the effects of smog in the 1940s and 1950s. The Los Angeles Daily News ran a surreal photo of Highland Park Optimist Club members in the northeast part of the city wearing smog-gas masks at a banquet in 1954. In England, from post-World War II through the mid-1960s, residents donned smog masks to fight the effects of air pollution. Parents made sure children kept their mouths covered with scarves while they waited for the school bus. Even cultural icons The Beatles put on smog masks before playing in Manchester, England December 7, 1965. Back in the U.S. 40 years ago, all Spokane, Washington residents were required to put on face masks while outside to protect against volcanic ash, steam, rocks and gas released when Mount St. Helens erupted. Of course, the clunky masks worn in previous decades are not as light as today's California-required cloth face coverings, which includes bandanas, scarves, homemade covers or store-bought covers. While covering our nose and mouth while at stores, public transit, parks, offices and schools might seem unnatural at first, we'll get used to the order. "Science shows that face coverings and masks work," Newsom said. "They are critical to keeping those who are around you safe, keeping businesses open and restarting our economy." For many of us, face coverings are a hindrance. But they've been worn for centuries and it looks like face coverings will be in our future for some time. The more we wear them, the easier it will get. Plus we'll be protecting others as well as ourselves from the still present COVID-19.