As a novel coronavirus — now of course known as COVID-19 — started spreading from a small community in China until it made its way around the world in the form of a global pandemic, life came standstill. In one fell swoop, COVID-19 crippled normal life, as we knew it, in every corner of the earth.
We too have to change in this new world, and wearing face masks is one of the socially responsible things we can do. Governments around the world are making the use of surgical masks or other home-made face coverings mandatory, or otherwise strongly advise citizens to use them.
Why can some people not wear face masks to protect themselves and others against COVID-19?
Asthma and lung diseases
Patients suffering from various pulmonary diseases, and especially asthma, find it difficult to wear a face mask, particularly when the weather is hot and humid. For them, wearing a face mask makes breathing an extremely difficult and laborious process, one that some describe as "trying to breathe through a bunch of cotton balls".
Anxiety
Certain people also suffer from anxiety and panic attacks due to the feel of fabric against their nose or due to the elastic bands around the ears.
Autism
Some autistic children and adults, too, have a hard time coping with a face mask. As the feel of tight elastic over their ears causes sensory overload, or a feeling of anxiety due to restricted breathing can make them go into sensory overdrive, some autistic people aren't able to wear masks.
Epileptic patients
Family members or colleagues of epileptic patients sometimes rely on a patient’s facial expressions to predict an imminent epileptic attack. Not able to see the pre-seizure facial expressions can be a safety hazard for them, resulting in epileptic people sometimes being safer without a face mask.
Being judged for not wearing a mask: What can you do?
Many governments have made face masks mandatory in public spaces, as a pre-condition for lifting the lockdowns.
Citing these orders, it is but natural that there will be a few snobbish people who will be judgmental about you not wearing a mask, believing you to be a "covidiot" even though you have perfectly legitimate reasons for not wearing a surgical mask or cloth face covering. People have been turned away from stores for not wearing masks, despite having an exemption letter from their physicians.
There have been instances of employers sending their employees back home despite having a genuine reason for not being able to wear a mask.
However, there is an exemption by law for those who suffer from medical conditions and are unable to wear a mask. You are also, by law, not required to declare your condition to anyone, provided you have a letter of exemption from your physician.
How to protect yourself against COVID-19 if you are not able to wear a mask?
Taking breaks
If you have problems with breathing while wearing a mask, it is OK to take small breaks in between whenever possible. Remember, the virus is not everywhere in the air; it comes from infected people around you.
If you are alone in a car, or when there is no one around you, you can take a "mask break". While removing or wearing the mask, be careful not to touch the front surface of the mask, as it can increase your risk of contracting the virus. Instead, handle the mask only with the elastic around your ear.
Maintaining a safe distance
If you are unable to wear masks at all, it is extremely important to maintain a distance of at least 6 feet from other people around you. Physical distancing will prevent many droplets from coming in contact with your nose, mouth, or eyes, in case an infected person sneezes or coughs around you. You must also make a conscious decision to not touch your face with your hands.
Wearing modified masks
If you have a hyper-sensory response due to the material from which a mask is made, or due to the seams and elastics of a mask, you can try alternate methods of covering your face.
Some companies make masks out of fabrics similar to those used in making clothing. These tend to be more comfortable and "breathable" compared to normal surgical masks. Though the protection they offer is a notch lower, such masks will provide at least some sort of protection from droplets and prevent your hands from coming in contact with your mouth and nose.
In case you are unable to wear a mask because of the elastic bands around the ear, try using modified masks that tie around the head, or wearing hair clips or headbands containing buttons over which elastics can be attached.
Alternative methods of covering your face
You can try wearing a bandana or a face cover made from a fabric that you are more comfortable with, as technically, any sort of face-covering can provide some amount of protection from infection. You can try on a face shield, which is a sort of a transparent visor, covering your entire face, providing you protection from droplets.
Customized face masks
Sometimes, autistic kids have a phobia of masks, because they associate the mask with a painful experience; say a visit to a dentist. In such cases, customized masks, like those containing a picture of their favorite superhero character, logo, or design can be tried.
Masks with a clear 'window'
Some masks contain a "window" made of plastic that makes the wearer's lips visible. These unique face masks were developed primarily so that deaf people can continue lip-reading people wearing masks. They can also be helpful in epileptic patients, by making their facial expressions visible, in case of an imminent seizure.
Continued voluntary quarantine
People who cannot wear face masks but who belong to more vulnerable groups already, because they might — for instance — suffer from asthma could also consider placing themselves under voluntary quarantine a bit longer. Such people may try to go for walks during times when others are not out on the street in large numbers, like very early in the morning or late at night, to get some exercise and help preserve mental health.
Conclusion
While there is no doubt that masks do indeed help in protecting individuals from getting infected with COVID-19, there are many reasons why certain individuals cannot wear them.
In such cases, alternative methods can be used to better protect yourself from a potential infection.
If at all you see an individual without a mask, rather than being judgemental and censuring them, try to know if they are unable to cope with a mask, empathize with them, and suggest ways in which they can protect themselves.
Your thoughts on this