Wearing face masks is one of the most controversial problems in our current situation. Let’s put together some good reasons why wearing face masks is a pretty good idea for everyone to do when mingling with other people.
The CDC says
On their prevention recommendations web page at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html the CDC says:
If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
The CDC is wrong.
Only useful when infected
The argument “A face mask does not protect you from becoming infected” is correct. But it only holds for exactly one person who is proven to be not infected affecting another person. It needs no scientific knowledge to see that there are more than two people living on this planet. Please take the big picture into account.
Ask yourself: “How can I know for sure that I am not infected, at any time?”
Education
Wearing a face mask encourages others to do the same and this is what protects you.
The wasting resources problem
One argument says clinics are in need of face masks and people are using up medical resources. But: Normal face masks don’t offer enough protection to be useful in clinics, they primarily help to avoid spreading the virus.
Face masks can be mass produced like toilet paper and plastic bags. So are we wasting resources?
And what about being in short supply? Please understand how the free market works: First demand, then supply!
Prioritise
If there are really not enough masks, start with:
It makes sense for exposed people, like shop staff, policemen and cab drivers, to wear masks.
It makes sense for people handling food or cleaning staff to wear masks.
Not to protect themselves, but to avoid spreading the virus to many, many others.
Cities in Comparison
Walking through Bangkok and Singapore in February, I saw about 40% and 25% of the people wearing face masks in public transport, respectively. Seeing images from Hong Kong recently, I deduce that nearly 100% of the people there wear face masks while in public. In Hong Kong there is no shortage of face masks. In Bangkok I was able to buy a pack of 50 face masks for a few bucks.
Of these three, Hong Kong was the one with the lowest infections. Unfortunately, the numbers went up in recent days, after many imported cases of people fleeing to Hong Kong.
Looking at the infection rates, it seems areas with more face mask usage have lower infections.
More space
Being the only one wearing a face mask gives you guaranteed extra space in public transport!
Non Discriminating
If only the infected should wear face masks, we tag and categorise people. As a German I say: Please do not do that!
Depending on which city you are in at the moment, you either get looks for wearing a face mask or you get the looks for not wearing a face mask.
Easy to explain, Easy to understand, Easy to verify
We need simple and effective rules that can be followed.
Just cover your mouth and nose
If no face mask is available, just cover your mouth and nose with something else.
Will it stop the spread?
Do you trust your surgeon when it comes to not getting an infection?
Update 2026: Typo and wording fixes, switch to UK English.