Masks are not Fashion Statements

To mask, or not to mask, that is the question. Here in Italy, there is a huge mask shortage. The mayor of Milan Beppe Sala has had to place numerous calls to China to source more. There is an ongoing polemic about masks. There are not enough masks. The masks are of bad (toilet-paper thin) quality. Masks are stuck in customs. Masks are stuck in other nations. Pharmacists are handing out masks illegally. For those illicit pharmacies, the government has threatened with a fine of over € 1,000.  Masks are absolutely fundamental for healthcare workers. They are crucial for those who have to work in supermarkets, or banks, or drive taxis in a breakout zone. They are indispensable for those with autoimmune deficiencies. Obviously, they are critical for those who are sick. So, why are so many people who don’t fall into those categories wearing masks, especially if we have a shortage? Of course, when you are, like we are here, in the eye of the Coronavirus hurricane, it can add a layer of protection, but it’s not indispensable.  Also, masks are only useful if they are used properly. That’s a one-time use, for 4 hours at most, having taken it off and put it on with clean hands without touching anything in between. (For more information, check out this helpful video from The Guardian)  I see so many people wearing them around their neck like a kerchief. Hm. So, the moral of this story is: There is a shortage of masks for people who need them, I don’t have any, I am healthy, I barely leave the house, and when I do, I don’t wear a mask. Am I crazy, I don’t think so!  A mask is not a fashion statement, nor is a full hazmat look, as Naomi Campbell would have us think.

 On a separate note: A message I’d like to give to business owners, freelancers and other folks out there who care to listen. The world may seem like it’s crumbling around us, but this is the time to create. Think of this time as a kind of gestation period. A pregnancy. I mention this because personally I have not felt so creative since 2008, when I was pregnant with my son and the market crash happening. Perhaps I function best in times of anxiety. But I see this time as an amazing opportunity to incubate ideas, work on projects, launch a business. This way, when the world starts to wake up, we will be ready to seize the day. So banish your Coronavirus blues, and get to work.