Wear Masks, Save Lives

Across the country we are experiencing a dangerous surge in coronavirus cases and, unfortunately, California is no exception. Increased infection rates and hospitalizations have forced our state to reconsider in-person instruction at schools this fall, close indoor dining, gyms, hair salons and other businesses just weeks after they began to reopen.

The governor’s decision to roll back some of our state’s re-opening was a tough call, but the right one. Delaying action when it comes to this virus just means exacerbating the damage and the unnecessary suffering and death that result.

So much of what it takes to slow this pandemic is difficult and expensive – closing businesses, investing in massive testing and contact tracing and more. But it’s becoming increasingly apparent that one of the best tools we have to fight the virus is one of the simplest and cheapest: masks. And it’s time we get serious about them across the country.

I recently joined young Angelenos in a new public service announcement to highlight why it’s so important to wear masks and practice social distancing. In observing COVID-19 growth rates among states, researchers found that states that mandated face coverings experienced slower daily growth as opposed to states without a mandate, which saw their case count increase at a faster rate.

Some countries in Southeast Asia like Japan, Taiwan and South Korea have been far more successful in controlling COVID-19 than the United States, resulting in fewer cases and lower mortality levels. And while not a panacea, many experts believe that a strong mask wearing culture in these countries has reduced the rate of infection.

Simply put masks work, and they save lives. And we all need to take that to heart.

Recently even some prominent figures in the administration who earlier showed hostility to the idea of wearing masks have been forced to acknowledge their efficacy, but these efforts have been inconsistent. Regrettably, there still has not been a concerted effort on the federal level to inform Americans about why masks are so important, how they work, or to encourage wearing masks as part of our collective fight against this virus, especially among young people who are most likely to be asymptomatic spreaders.

That’s why last month I introduced the Masks Work Act, which would establish a program to provide free cloth masks to any American who requests them, delivered by the United States Postal Service. Masks are not expensive, and they can be fashioned out of readily available materials, but costs can still be a barrier to some households. We should be making it as easy as possible for Americans to protect their health and the health of those around them.

Second, the bill would put Congress on record stating that wearing masks around others is a simple and effective way to slow the spread of the virus, and would call on those in positions of leadership to model the CDC’s mask recommendations.

Finally, the Mask Works Act directs the CDC to immediately undertake a public service announcement campaign to promote mask wearing. It would require the CDC to inform Americans on the efficacy of cloth masks and why they are recommended by scientific and medical experts to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and to get that message out far and wide. It would also fund research into which types of masks are most effective in protecting the wearer and those with whom they come into contact.

There is a great deal about the fight against the coronavirus that is challenging and expensive. But not this. Wearing a mask is both easy and cheap. In fact, a recent study estimated that universal mask adoption in the United States could save 5% of GDP, or $1 trillion.

With caseloads growing rapidly in many parts of the country, our margin for error is small. We need to do everything we can to keep Americans healthy and safe and while nothing short of a vaccine can truly end the threat of this virus we must aggressively pursue simple and affordable courses of action that can reduce the threat as a vaccine is developed.

An increase in mask adoption that reduces the rate of transmission even by a small amount could mean the difference between a gradual reduction in the incidence of the virus or a second wave of infection. Let’s all do our part – wear masks and save lives.

Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Burbank) represents California’s 28th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives

  Rep. Adam Schiff