A Pandemic In 2020

A Pandemic
In 2020
2018
FACE MASKS

This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA

OCTOBER 18

An Analytical Report by:

Kristen Etsitty

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A Pandemic In 2020

Table of Contents
Introduction............................................................ 3

Methodology .......................................................... 3

Results .................................................................... 4

Discussion ............................................................... 7

Summary ................................................................ 7

References .............................................................. 9

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 A Pandemic In 2020

A Pandemic in 2020
WHAT DOES MASK WEARING COME DOWN TO?
A pandemic is expected around the end of each century, yet many were very unprepared in 2020
when COVID-19 appeared. In fact, the last time a pandemic occurred was in 1918 when the Spanish
Flu hit. Millions of people fell victim to this virus which inevitably began many studies on how to
prevent its spread. Many of the precautions taken during this pandemic were similar to the ones
some are taking today. This includes social distancing, mask wearing, and staying home. However, the
irresponsibility of not only our communities, but public figures has caused the misinformation of the
Coronavirus. In particular, not wearing masks country-wide has been perhaps the biggest failure
we’ve made with this pandemic.
When Coronavirus first
appeared in December of 2019,
the world was unprepared.
However, other countries
seemed to gain control of the
virus’ spread by implementing
rules and advising the usage of
masks. Sadly, the Trump
administration and the federal
government did not advise of
many precautions to take and
Fig. 1. U.S. Coronavirus Cases: Tracking Deaths, Confirmed by State even gave all control to state
(Joe Fox, Brittany Mayes. The Washington Post, WP Company, 26 June 2020,
www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/national/coronavirus-us-cases-deaths/.) Governors to handle their own
situation(s). Alike many other
states, New Mexico has struggled with implementing rules to slow the spread of the virus. New
Mexico has vigilantly advised everyone to wear masks and in some communities has involved law
enforcement, but many people refuse to comply claiming that this violates their rights. This
disobedience is in large part due to the uproar by the President of the United States repeatedly
advising people stand guard and protect their first amendment rights. This report will explore our
negligence and how this has costed the lives of 211,000 people in the United States which includes
the 915 deaths in New Mexico.

Methodology
At first glance, it is easy to overlook the importance of mask wearing because it seems like such an
insignificant factor of COVID-19, however it is far more important than many political figures are
implying today. Thus, it is vital to analyze all aspects of mask wearing including the history of face
coverings, what purpose masks serve, and why masks are seen as good or bad. Examining this
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information will provide a greater understanding of face coverings so everyone can decide what’s
best and if the failure to wear masks nationwide has caused COVID-19 to be this detrimental.

Stage 1: The History of Face Coverings

Stage 2: What Purpose Do Face-Coverings Serve?

Stage 3: Why Are Masks Viewed Negatively?

Stage 1: The History of Face Coverings

Humans have survived through multiple global outbreaks of deadly viruses, some documented and
some unknown. Therefore, it is necessary that we reflect on what we learned throughout history to
be more efficient with this pandemic.
Stage 2: What Purpose do Face-Coverings Serve?
Throughout this pandemic, the most controversial issue has been whether masks should be
mandated. What do they do? This is a question most should know the answer to by now, but
misinformation about the effectiveness of masks has given many the wrong impression of them. This
section is the most crucial because it outlines the significance of masks.
Stage 3: Why Are Masks Viewed Negatively?
Media has disrupted American’s views of vital steps essential to gain control of COVID-19. In
particular, the United States has been deprived of leadership and a sense of safety with this virus.
New Mexicans have had to rely on the Governor of New Mexico to protect us. Many people in New
Mexico are willing to comply with such mandates, but some choose to trust the President instead.

Results
Stage 1: The History of Face Coverings
The first step you should take in a public healthy emergency is guaranteeing it is an influenza, so
you know how it is transmitted. In 1918 when the Spanish Flu first appeared, this is exactly what
health officials did (Barry). Once the influenza was identified, precautions were taken. Public health
defenses began such as shutting down communities, banning public gatherings, and requiring social
distancing (Barry). In most states, masks were mandatory by law and if you failed to comply, you
would either receive a ticket or be arrested (Barry).
The jurisdiction states had over their residents caused a lot of rage in those that didn’t like being
told what to do. This caused an increase in crime, leading to the death of a man that would not abide
by these rules and thousands of citations issued in the states that allowed them (Nina Strochlic).
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Eventually however, Americans realized that Governors were not abusing the power they had but
instead were looking out for the well-being of the people. People witnessed what this influenza did
firsthand when states wouldn’t create such regulations and soon after, would have so many corpses
they wouldn’t know where to put them. It wasn’t until a majority of states adopted such mandates
that the United States could finally gain control of the virus (Nina Strochlic).
Stage 2: What Purpose Do Face Coverings Serve?
When people are told to obey a command because it serves an outcome, they inherently need
proof of its purpose. When face covering were first introduced to slow the spread of the Spanish Flu,
many people did not understand what good they did. A century later, all the evidence is in front of us
from the use of them during the Spanish Flu and dozens of studies. Multiple studies have supported
that masks block respiratory droplets from leaving and entering your mouth (Bai).
The major reason blocking respiratory droplets is crucial is because many people are pre-
symptomatic and asymptomatic. Pre-symptomatic means a person can be infected with COVID-19,
but they have yet to show symptoms. Asymptomatic is when a person is infected, but they never
show symptoms. When a person has Coronavirus, it does not matter if they’re asymptomatic, pre-
symptomatic, or show all symptoms, they’re still contagious.
Masks have been encouraged worldwide, but people are yet to be shown evidence that it actually
slows the spread of influenza. Nevertheless, Health Affairs conducted a study on states that started
mandating masks and how this affected the infection rate. They found that in fifteen states mask
mandates led to a slow down in daily Coronavirus rates (Bai). “The first five days after a mandate, the
daily growth rate slowed by 0.9 percentage-points compared to the five days prior to the mandate; at
three weeks, the daily growth rate had slowed by 2 percentage-points” (Bai). These percentages may
seem low, but when you take into account the thousands of people one or two percent stand for, it is
shocking.
In addition to Health Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been
advising the use of face masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19. They have provided multiple
releases on how to be safe during this pandemic and recently provided the latest science of masks in
July of 2020 (Prevention). According to a study done by the CDC, two hair stylists had respiratory
symptoms and continued to work for days until they were diagnosed with Coronavirus (Prevention).
However, the two women wore masks every time they had customers, so the study found that of the
48% of customers that agreed to be tested, all were negative for Coronavirus (Prevention).
Stage 3: Why Are Masks Viewed Negatively?
When COVID-19 first appeared in December of 2019, the world was unaware what we would soon
encounter. By January, most countries had taken steps to ensure the virus wouldn’t enter their
border, but the United States still hadn’t been given a plan to tackle this influenza. Instead of taking a
productive approach on COVID-19, Trump handed the authority and responsibility to state Governors
(Elshaug). This gave Governors the choice of route for their state and what precautions they would
take to save lives. The responsibilities Governors had wasn’t limited to mandates, but they also had
to allocate their own materials for their state, such as masks and ventilators (Elshaug).

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In the midst of this pandemic,

Americans have been deprived of
leadership that has costed hundreds of
thousands of lives. Mask wearing has
become political with the President
saying, “masks don’t have any
protective advantages” (Elshaug).
Thus, republican states/persons
choose to not wear masks. The New
York Times conducted a study of
republicans and democrats and how
fearful they are of this virus. Figure two shows Fig. 2. As Covid Has Become A Red-State Problem, Have Attitudes Changed?
the results. (Gebeloff, Robert. The New York Times, The New York Times, 30 July 2020,
www.nytimes.com/2020/07/30/upshot/coronavirus-republican-
In fact, a study based on cellphone records voting.html.)
revealed areas with more Republicans engage in
less social distancing (Gabeloff).
After conducting a questionnaire in Farmington, New Mexico, the results are very similar. In my
study, I surveyed twenty-one Republicans and twenty-one Democrats and received significant results.
They were each given three choices to the question –“ When in public, do you only find it necessary
to wear a mask: When no one is around ꙱, when someone is 6 feet near ꙱, or Not at all꙱. My study
found that of the twenty-one republicans, nine people think it is necessary at all times, three think it
is only necessary when someone is six feet near, and nine believe it isn’t necessary at all. In contrast,
of the twenty-one democrats I surveyed, eighteen find it necessary at all times and only three find it
necessary when someone is six feet near.
They were also given another question- “When businesses do not require masks, do you choose to
wear one? Yes꙱ No꙱”. Out of the twenty-one republicans I surveyed, nine choose to wear masks
and twelve do not. However, all twenty-one democrats I surveyed choose to wear a mask even when
businesses do not require them.

Republicans vs. Democrats vs.

Democrats Republicans
When Is It Necessary To Wear A When a business does not
Mask? require masks, do you choose
to wear one?
20
30
15
10 20

5 10

0 0
At All Times 6 ft Near Not At All Yes No

Republicans Democrats Republicans Democrats

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The Governor of New Mexico, Michelle Lujan Grisham, was one of the first Governors to respond
to Coronavirus and implement rules to slow its spread. However, individual personnel as mentioned
above have challenged these rules. Not only are individuals challenging the Governor of New Mexico,
but the Mayor in Grants, Martin Hicks, encouraged business owners to “defy the governor’s
lockdown” (Contreras). Hicks stated Mayor Grisham was causing a lot of chaos over a little bug
(Contreras). Although Mayor Hicks identifies as a Democrat, he has made multiple comments
blaming democrats and the “Green New Deal” for closing a powerplant in Cibola, NM (Robinson).

Discussion
After analyzing these three stages, it is infeasible to determine what actions the United States will
take before more lives are taken than necessary. However, it is easy to relate to both sides of the
argument
The people that choose to not wear masks feel their rights are being stipped from them. The
United States has been founded on “equality” and rights, it’s even known as the “land of the free”.
When these rights are threatened, people become protective and often aggressive, which in some
cases is understandable.
In oppposition to their right to not wear a mask, some people deem facial coverings crucial for
overcoming this pandemic. They choose to trust science and/or have seen this how destructive this
virus is firsthand.

Summary
Masks have been supported by qualified personnel and dozens of studies. They have been proved
to decrease the infection rate of Coronavirus. They are crucial for this influenza because people have
shown no symptoms and infected at least three other people. In states they have been mandated,
Coronavirus slowed down. In contrast, cases have sky-rocketed in states they have been made a
choice.
If there is one thing history has taught us it is, without conflict, there comes no change. In the U.S. it
is vital that we stand for what we believe is right because it brings compromising. Whether you
believe masks are necessary or not, we must voice our opinions to bring light to such a life-
threatening issue.
In the 20th century, Polio appeared and was feared worldwide. No one knew how it spread and
there was no cure. Children who contracted Polio were often left ill, paralyzed, unable to breath, or in
many cases, deceased. In the 50’s, a man named Jonas Salk created a vaccine for polio (Kurlander).
This vaccine was tested on 1.8 million schoolchildren and would be known as the largest medical
study in history (Kurlander). Prior to Salk’s vaccine, thousands of people were victim of failed
vaccines. Although facial coverings weren’t effective for polio, the only way they overcame it was by
uniting, which is the only way we can defeat Coronavirus.

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Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.
-Martin Luther King Jr.

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Works Cited
Bai, Nina. "Still Confused About Masks? Here's the Science Behind How Face Masks
Prevent Coronavirus." 26 June 2020. University of California San Francisco. 8
October 2020.
Barry, John M. The Great Influenza. Viking Press, 2004. Print.
Contreras, Russel. Mayor of Grants, NM Defies Governor's Lockdown Order. Las
Cruces: lc-sun, 2020. 20 October 2020.
Elshaug, Adam. "Pandemic letter from America: How the U.S. Handling of COVID-19
Provides the Starkest Warning for Us All." The Conversation (2020).
Gabeloff, Robert. "As Covid Has Become A Red-State Problem, Have Attitudes
Changed?" 30 July 2020. The New York Times. 10 October 2020.
Kurlander, Carl. "The Deadly Polio Epidemic and Why It Matters For Coronavirus." 2
April 2020. Discover. 14 October 2020.
Nina Strochlic, Riley D. Champine. How Some Cities 'Flattened the Curve' During the
1918 Flu Pandemic. 27 March 2020. 11 October 2020.
Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and. CDC Calls On Americans to Wear Masks
to Prevent COVID-19 Spread. Atlanta: US Dep. of Health and Human Services,
2020. website.
Robinson, Sherry. Carlsbad Current Arges. Carlsbad : Current Arges, 2020.