The number of masks is increasing and threatens public health and people with weakened immune systems

The CDC just changed its assessment of the risks of Covid-19 from saying that it is primarily a seasonal winter respiratory infection to noting that there is also summer peaks. It is therefore even more disturbing that a number of cities and states are choosing to promote mask bans. That policy came into effect here.

North Carolina

In North Carolina, the General Assembly passed the aforementioned bill HB 237 Unmasking gangs and criminals. It said it is illegal to mask in public unless you have a contagious disease. (Note: There is no exception for the occurrence of diseases, asthma or other medical problems). Republicans said the law was passed in response masking on college campuses by protesters against the war in Gaza. The law also increases penalties if someone commits a crime while wearing a mask. But if they were granted a permit, the KKK could hold masked gatherings.

Democratic State Representative. Maria Cervania is both an epidemiologist and legislator. In an interview, she said the worst part is that “any owner or resident of that property can tell you to take off your mask.” Further, “law enforcement may ask you to remove your mask for any reason.” Democratic Governor Roy Cooper vetoed this bill, and the Republican Legislature overrode his veto.

The GOP knows “this is not based on medical facts,” Cervania added. “It is not based on individual rights and freedoms. It is not about people being able to make decisions about their own health, or about the health of their loved ones.” “This is all political,” Cervania concluded, and “passing this on does not protect our people.”

Chicago and Philadelphia

In Chicago, Councilman Raymond Lopez proposed language identical to North Carolina’s. It still needs to move forward.

The Defender Association of Philadelphia, a nonprofit group of attorneys, offered several perspectives. They counter that these ‘dress code’ solutions are ineffective crime deterrents.” They also provide “an additional pretext for law enforcement to surveil youth of color,” leading to increased incarceration and endangering their socio-economic futures. Some young people wear ski masks as a fashion statement, they note. Unfortunately, many sometimes ‘wear them because they are afraid of being recognized by other people who intend to harm them.”

New York City

Eric Adams, the Democratic mayor of New York City, has long been one in favor of facial recognition and surveillance cameras. In June, Adams stated: “I strongly support the decision to put masks on our subway system, masks in protest, and masks in other areas where it is not health related.” Adams ignored health concerns and said “people”have hidden under the guise of wearing a mask for COVID to commit criminal acts and vile acts. I think this is the time to get back to the way things were before COVID.”

But even in early 2023, Adams urged store owners to “not allowing people to enter the store without taking off their face masks.” Back then, NYC was still “reported a daily average of 611 new cases and 24 new hospitalizations” per week. The the city’s health department stated, “We strongly encourage everyone to wear masks in all indoor public spaces.” Requiring immunocompromised people to unmask would likely violate the Americans With Disabilities Act.

In response to a pro-Palestinian threat on the New York subway, Governor Kathy Hochul has strongly supported the mask ban. She said: “We do not tolerate individuals the use of masks to avoid responsibility for criminal or threatening behavior^⁠‘, and added: ‘On the subway, people are not allowed to hide behind a mask to commit crimes.’ She indicated that the ban was in response to anti-Semitic attacks and was a response to demands from some Jewish leaders, especially in the United States League against defamation And Council on Jewish Community Relations.

However, such arguments do not take into account the fact that subways and other closed or crowded spaces are exactly the places where you want to protect yourself against Covid-19, for example.

But Julie Lam, founder of Mask together America, understands this and is a seemingly tireless advocate for masking and protecting immunocompromised people. Her site and X (Twitter) stream is full of suggestions for activism. For example, she suggests sending letters to all your elected officials and offers a template. Likewise, she has an extensive one toolbox“End mask bans.”

Los Angeles

Following a pro-Palestinian protest at a synagogue in Los Angeles that turned violent, the city’s mayor, Karen Bass, is the latest to join the anti-mask bandwagon. Ironically, just a few days later, Bass became ill with Covid-19. She has the luxury of being able to work from home as well as having sick leave.

Change in Covid pattern

Because of the seasonal change, the CDC recommends that “vulnerable” people, such as those who are 65 or older, have a weakened immune system or are pregnant, get an additional Covid-19 vaccination this summer. They will likely recommend boosters every six months for these groups. Despite the fact that Covid-19 has spread through the air, they only recommend masking under ‘additional strategies’ so far consider handwashing as a ‘core strategy’. They came up with this latest advice at a time when The number of Covid-19 cases is rising steadily again.

The lack of masking remains a particular problem in hospitals, where immunocompromised patients are at risk of contracting a hospital-acquired Covid-19 infection. Some hospitals, such as Massachusetts General and UCSF, have made masking optional for staff.

Opposition to mask bans

First, addressing the claim that mask bans are necessary for facial recognition and societal safety, mounting evidence shows face masks are less effective than sunglasses in masking facial identity. Another study claims “Convolutional neural networks are very capable of learning features and accurately identifying the image, even when the only fully visible part of the face is the eyes.”

There is widespread opposition to the proposed mask ban for a number of reasons. a Los Angeles Times editorial says a ban “would likely violate the First Amendment right of expression.” It notes that many want to avoid police surveillance and protect their privacy.

Happy TranPh.D., a science communicator at Columbia University, summarized the mask ban succinctly:

He points out a number of fallacies in the pro-mask arguments. First, people of color are more likely to wear masks, and it is a social norm in some Asian countries. In an interview, Tran noted, “There is no evidence that a ban increases security,” but there is significant data that it increases anti-Asian attacks.

The lack of media coverage of this issue “plays into the larger minimization of the pandemic and the lingering effects of Covid,” Tran added. “Mask bans stigmatize wearing masks.” Health exemptions are very vague and limited, and “they give too much power to authorities who are likely to abuse it,” he added. It will “lead to criminalization and further marginalization of affected communities.”

Tran reserved his most biting criticism of the proposed bans, which come at the same time Hochul and Adams are raising concerns about climate change — New York City is suffering a heat wave — saying, “It seems absolutely hypocritical that they’re banning masks on the streets. a time when they warn people about air quality,” as “masks are one of the best ways to protect yourself from wildfire smoke.”

Donna Lieberman, executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union, echoed Tran’s concerns. In terms of immunocompromised people, she said (via email): “As we continue to grapple with COVID-19, a mask ban could well make the subway more dangerous, ban high-risk people from public spaces and allow people to open up couples trying to protect themselves from harassment.”

She urged New Yorkers to demand their elected officials listen to their constituents. “Calling and sending letters and emails to remind their local legislators and the governor of the harms of a mask ban can make a real difference. A mask ban is a dangerous overstep that would suppress political expression, criminalize dissent and, if past is any prologue, lead to arbitrary, selective enforcement against people of color and protesters that police disagree with.”

Finally, there is a thoughtful, open letter from Jews for mask rights, in response to Hochul’s claim that the bans are “demanded” by Jewish leaders in response to rising anti-Semitism, signed by more than 1,030 Jews, of whom more than 140 are leaders. They summarize:

“Jewish tradition prioritizes the sanctity and protection of life above all else. Jews are not permitted to endanger our own lives or the lives of others, or to behave in ways that could spread disease or cause death. We have a duty to protect people’s lives and health.” others. The principle of pikuach nefesh – “saving a life” – prioritizes the preservation of human life above almost everything else. Wearing a mask is a mitzvah [good deed]. By banning it, Jews are at odds with our tradition and violate both our religious freedom and our physical safety.”

Governor Kathy Hochul, Eric Adams and the CDC did not respond to requests for comment on the mask ban.