When it comes to mask-wearing requirements, an old battle cry is gaining new support: We’re mad as hell, and we’re not going to take it anymore.
Why? Because many people who once thought masking was a reasonable response to COVID-19 have had enough. More than enough, actually. They don’t want to wear masks. They don’t want their kids to wear masks. And they sure as heck don’t want to hear from health officials or anyone else claiming masks are a good idea. And by the way, their numbers are growing by the day.
And it’s not like a good chunk of the American public wasn’t opposed from the get-go.
In recent weeks, we’ve seen anti-mask truckers block a major bridge connecting the United States and Canada, and an Illinois governor have his mask requirement overturned in court.
Perhaps most shocking of all: Three pro-mask San Francisco School Board members were removed from their positions in a recall vote last Tuesday. Message to the pro-mask crowd: When you’ve lost San Francisco, the war is over.
The growing antipathy toward masks, which was once a partisan issue, seems to be happening almost everywhere. Including, by the way, in many skilled nursing facilities.
Despite federal mandates, we’re hearing more and more stories of lax employee oversight, and growing sentiment within this field that masks should be a matter of personal choice. Not in your facility, perhaps. But trust me. It’s happening.
I can’t say I’m terribly surprised. To repeat: Many people have had enough. After all, we’ve been dealing with this pandemic for just about two years now.
The good news is that the COVID-19 virus seems to be running out of steam. And the current omicron variant appears to be relatively weak.
For that we should be grateful. Because when it comes to mask rules, many people would prefer a breath of fresh air.
John O’Connor is Editorial Director for McKnight’s.
Opinions expressed in McKnight’s columns are not necessarily those of McKnight’s.
