The governor of Texas, Abbott, suddenly changed his attitude on July 2 and signed an executive order requiring people to wear masks in public places in all counties with more than 20 confirmed cases. However, Abbott had previously It has been said that the county government cannot force people to wear masks. This move forced the government to face an epidemic rebound after restarting the economy prematurely, but it again triggered public controversy about wearing masks.
Looking back at history, similar arguments seem to have occurred in the past epidemic:
From the beginning of the 1890s when masks were first introduced to surgical procedures, to the outbreak of the Spanish flu in 1918, people have always been full of doubts and resistance to the use of Disposable masks.
Do surgeons wear masks to discuss?
The idea that surgeons should wear masks during surgery was raised in the German medical community in 1889. At that time, the academic community was actively discussing various technical methods to achieve aseptic surgery to prevent wound infections, including protective clothing, hats, gloves and so on. Since the bacteriologist Karl Frygg confirmed at the time that bacteria could spread through droplets, defense equipment, including masks, became one of the methods proposed to fill the loophole in the spread of bacteria in the operating room.
In the Confucian cultural circle in Asia, wearing masks does not seem to cause controversy like the United States
But this plan was strongly opposed by the famous editor of the China-Europe Medical Journal and surgeon Alexander Frankel. He disdainfully described the protective measures proposed by the academic community at that time as "a set of costumes designed under the slogan of achieving complete sterility of the wound, with a women's hat and a mask on the mouth."
He believes that medical personnel wearing masks and other protective equipment during surgery alone is not enough to constitute complete protection against bacteria. In terms of wound infection, there are factors such as the patient¡¯s own bacteria or tissue that need to be considered, so he decided this method It is "unscientific".
Although the discussion at this time is still limited to the use of masks in the operating room, the opinions of its opponents are similar to the opinion that some people or experts in the early stage of the new crown epidemic believe that there is no need to wear masks-even if they wear a mask Viruses may enter the gaps on both sides of the mask, or the user accidentally touches the contaminated mask, and then touches the mouth and nose, which causes infection.
Both viewpoints seem to point out the flaws in the protection of masks, but they rejected the plan without giving a better choice-this "no 100% protection, it is better not to protect" argument is really ancient and modern As one.
During the New York outbreak, a lady wearing a mask walked over the Brooklyn Bridge
Mask Mask Order of the United States in 1918
Individual behavior may not be rational, but the behavior of the general public is rational-the personal opposition of Dr. Alexander Frankel eventually failed to "stop" the realization of sterile surgery with masks and other equipment, which was gradually accepted.
After debate in the medical community, the two large-scale outbreaks after the 20th century, and the global pandemic of 1918-1919-brought the mask as a work to prevent the spread of disease into the public's vision.
Between September and October 1918, the pandemic began to invade the states of the United States at a faster rate and with a higher mortality rate. In California, in just three weeks, the infectious disease with the largest number of deaths in the 20th century has rapidly expanded from zero. The state government immediately announced that all schools, movie theaters, and dance halls will be closed and issued the first request. All people wear masks.
In mid-May, US Vice President Pence
At this time, at the end of the First World War, the domestic patriotism boom has not faded. Newspapers and state governments have launched publicity activities related to wearing masks, shouting the slogan "wear gas masks in trenches, and flu masks at home", and the soldiers fighting at the front line at this time with the fate of the American people in their hometowns. Connected together. In an instant, there is a general attitude in society that wearing a mask is a civil obligation during the war.
A public service advertisement of the Red Cross even claimed that ¡°those who do not wear masks are dangerous evaders¡±. This fear of being seen as an evader of duty and the sense of duty as a citizen during the war forced most urban residents who issued mask orders to abide by the regulations of the time.
In view of the current epidemic, some infectious disease experts and officials have also tried to unite the people with a patriotic psychology-such as infectious disease expert Dr. Aronno from Vanderbilt University called "as a part of the Americans" People wear masks. He pointed out that wearing masks can prevent some superficially healthy asymptomatic people from transmitting the virus to others, so it is a kind of goodwill to appeal to the American people to unite.
But such attempts are not very successful today. It seems that there is no fear of a social stigma like the "embargoers". The positive value alone is not enough to persuade the people-of course, when some American politicians don¡¯t take masks at all, ivory The scholar's appeal is also difficult to touch the people.
During the Spanish flu epidemic in 1919, the streets of Paris called on everyone wearing masks
The familiar anti-mask sounds
Looking back at California in 1918, when the mask order was implemented from October to the end of November, the state government used fines, imprisonment, etc. as the punishment for breaking the law. There have even been police officers who shot the offenders and two people because they violated the mask regulations. The case of a passerby. However, in January of the following year, as the California began to lift the ban and resume normal economic life, the epidemic rebounded. At this time, the state government again recommended that people wear masks. But at this time, the war had ended for nearly two months, lacking the influence of patriotic sentiment, and the government's call led to popular resistance.
Businessmen who are worried about the impact of their business and those who think that wearing masks are a violation of human rights have voiced their opinions. Christian Science believes that such regulations "undermine personal freedom and the powers granted to them by the Constitution"; there are other liberals who believe that if health officials can force people to wear masks, they can also force people to be vaccinated , Participate in various experiments or anything that detracts from dignity.
A group of dissidents, mainly doctors, formed the "Anti-mask Alliance" and called a public rally with more than 2,000 participants.
On June 20, Trump restarted the election rally, and the staff who sold the products of his campaign team put on masks
According to media reports, the demonstrators questioned the night whether the epidemic was really as bad as people said, would it be more like a common cold and the flu season in the past, and passed a resolution at the meeting, Condemned this "mask regulation contrary to the will of the overwhelming majority of the people."
The history of the Great Flu from 1918 to 1919 is strikingly similar to today's situation. The people once again protested and protested by protests and advocated masks that violated human rights. Stephen Taylor, a clinical psychologist and author of The Psychology of Global Epidemics, said that following these rules is like giving up some freedom to some people, "People cherish their freedom. When someone tries to violate these When they are free, they will feel pain, resentment, or moral outrage."
In 1919, William Hasler, the most authoritative medical expert in California at the time, threatened to receive a package containing explosives after proposing that the public should wear a mask.
According to a report by US Cable Television, also in California, a senior health official received death threats on the third day after the state government asked residents to wear masks in public places on June 19.
A hundred years of history have passed, and similar disputes among the public have repeatedly been staged. The argument that wearing a mask is useless and wearing a mask violates individual freedom is still popular among the people, and there is still no consensus today.
The success of the mask order briefly implemented during the 1918-1919 pandemic did not seem to be well summarized.
So in the 21st century, facing the world's new crown epidemic, the United States has no politicians to unite the people, and the people continue to have their own opinions like headless flies. Under such circumstances, it is even more difficult to allow the entire population to safely coexist with the virus regardless of conquering the epidemic.
As of press time, the number of confirmed cases in the United States is still the highest in the world, and the number of diagnoses in a single day has reached a new high. This is the current embarrassing reality of American society.
The editor thinks you think you are healthy without a mask. If there is an unhealthy infected person who does not wear a mask, can it bring you health without a mask? The editor recommends wearing a mask where people gather. Protect yourself and be responsible for yourself, protect your family and be responsible for your family.