How the idea of wearing a mask has gone through phases of acceptance and resistance since the Spanish Flu

The World Health Organisation in no uncertain terms makes it clear that masks should be used as part of a comprehensive strategy of measures to suppress transmission and save lives. It was reminiscent of the fourteen portraits printed on the front page of the Chronicle in November 1918 showing a group of “beaming” faces freed from gauze masks: the revellers were all women.” The Red Cross went to the extent of calling “the man or woman or child who will not wear a mask now is a dangerous slacker” but still not all were convinced and around 6,75,000 people died in the US alone because of the Spanish flu. The researchers discovered that “men more than women disagree with the statement “wearing a face covering is cool” and agree with the statements: “wearing a face covering is not cool” “wearing a face covering is shameful”, “wearing a face coveringis sign of weakness”, and “the stigma attached to wearing a face covering is preventing [them>from wearing one as often as [they>should”.” Researcher Antoine Bristielle, who studied a French survey of 800 members of anti-mask Facebook groups, was surprised to find that 52 percent of the sample believed that the compulsory wearing of masks is part of a global Zionist plot. “For Asian observers, not wearing face masks represents the lack of social cohesion, failure of effective government prevention strategies and comprehensive solidarity. In a revised set of guidelines, the CDC says, “Fully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance.” The WHO is however is not on the same page on this with the US body.