Many states and their citizens in the U.S. have been mandated to wear masks for almost two years now since the pandemic started in March of 2020, and US citizens are seeking new information and updates about the situation. 

According to CDC.com, masks are the simplest and easiest barrier stopping you from getting sick with Covid-19. They are designed to stop respiratory droplets from reaching others. So why is there a debate on whether or not we should be required to wear masks? A large number of people do not think that masks are effective enough to be mandated at schools, work, or other public areas.

A survey with a sample size of 50 Minnesotans asked whether or not masks should be required to be worn in schools. The question was asked in person in SHS and through direct messages via social media. The answers were primarily taken from SHS attendants; however, there were some answers that came from students of other schools that are not mask mandated. The sample also included younger students who attend SMS, and parents of SHS students as well, as a way to negate age bias. The results are shown in the pie chart below.

When interviewing Colleen Lance, a nurse at Centracare, she had this to say about the concern, “I think they are effective if worn properly…There seems to be a good number of positive cases in the schools… I am not sure if masking is effective with school-age kids unless they wear them properly and don’t gather in crowds unmasked.”

However, not only are masks not worn properly by a majority of students, but many say they may even be a distraction. An article from slate.com states that the public also has even raised concerns about masks in school being too distracting, especially for the younger grades.

As for who should be required to wear a mask, CDC.com suggests that all children two or older should wear one, as well as anyone who finds themselves in a public setting or when in close proximity to other people not from your own household. The exceptions to those who do not need to wear a mask in public settings are children under two years old, people with disabilities that cannot safely wear a mask, and any situation that may create a hazard to the workplace.

 When asked if children should be required to wear masks, the same Centracare nurse replied, “No-it’s difficult for some to keep a mask on, especially for a long school day.” “Let the kids focus on learning, not worrying about a mask.”

So what does wearing a mask improperly consist of, and how often should you wash one for it to be used effectively and safely? Having your mask below your nose is essentially the same as not wearing one in the eyes of medical workers.

Lance also recommends, “You should wash a cloth mask daily. Better yet, use the surgical disposal ones, they provide better protection…don’t even bother wearing one if you can’t wear it properly.”

Overall, there will always be a debate on whether or not masks are indispensable to the general public when in close proximity with others not from the same household. A lot of the time, it depends on the day-to-day experiences of each person and how much masks are actually involved in their life which decides their stance on the subject. But that is not always the case, for example, the nurse interviewed believes that it can still be confusing when to wear a mask or not.