Victoria’s chief of health Brett Sutton recently said there were good reasons why some people cannot wear a mask:
A number […] They cannot legitimately wear masks, so please do not denigrate individuals or assume they are simply stubborn. There will be people with medical, behavioral, and psychological reasons. […] certainly do not assume that they should be the object of your anger.
He commented on the first day that he wore a mask in public in Greater Melbourne and Mitchell Shire became mandatory, except for those without a valid reason.
Read more: Which mask works best? We film people coughing and sneezing to discover
It is easy to reach conclusions.
Since wearing a mask in public becomes more common in Australia, whether it is mandatory where you live or you choose to wear one, it can be tempting to assume that people who do not wear masks are irresponsible, misguided, or selfish.
You may also wonder why you need to wear a mask when others don’t.
But some people find it difficult or distressing to wear a mask. Therefore, to reduce the risk of inflammatory or inappropriate comments being made, we must understand some of the reasons why:
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autism – Some people with Autism Spectrum Disorders find that covering their nose and mouth with cloth can cause sensory overload, panic, and extreme anxiety.
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disability – Some people with disabilities may find it difficult to wear a mask if they cannot remove one from their face without help. For example, a person with cerebral palsy may not be able to tie the strings or place the elastic ties of a face mask over the ears, due to limited mobility.
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post-traumatic stress disorder, severe anxiety, or claustrophobia – People with these conditions may find it terrifying to wear a mask and may not be able to stay calm or function while wearing it.
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hearing impairment – deaf or hard of hearing people, or those who care for or interact with someone with a hearing disability, rely on lip reading to communicate. Therefore, wearing a face mask can be challenging.
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facial deformities or physical trauma – It may be incompatible with the use of a mask.
There are legitimate security concerns
This is not a list of exemptions. Nor should we assume that all people who fall into these categories cannot wear masks.
In some situations, wearing a face covering can worsen a physical or mental health condition, trigger a medical emergency, or be a significant safety issue.
In the United States and the United Kingdom there have been reports of people with disabilities being challenged, threatened with arrest, or excluded from retail and food stores for not wearing a mask.
Conversely, there have been incidents in which anti-mask activists have feigned disability to avoid having to wear a mask in public. This could increase people’s skepticism and mistrust for legitimate, but potentially not obvious, reasons for not having to wear a mask.
While there are people who can’t really wear masks, for others, it may take extra time, resources, adaptations, alternatives, and support to get comfortable wearing one.
Read more: 13 inside tips on how to wear a mask without your lenses fogging up, shortness of breath, or ear pain
That could take a bit of trial and error before finding a mask that fits well or is made of comfortable fabric. Others may wear a mask, but only for a short time.
There are online resources with helpful tips and strategies to reduce stress and the challenges associated with wearing a mask or mask. However, governments must also ensure that these resources are accessible to the people who need them, their families and caregivers.
How about respiratory problems?
The Victorian government includes people with respiratory problems on its list of valid medical exemptions for not wearing a mask in public.
But this is a gray area. We have no evidence-based guidelines for judging these various medical exemptions. Currently, each country is taking a slightly different approach in this area.
In any case, given the types of masks the public wears (cloth masks or surgical / facial masks), some experts say these masks are unlikely to cause problems.
For example, the medical director of the American Lung Association recently said:
People with underlying chronic lung disease, such as [chronic obstructive pulmonary disease] or asthma, you should be able to wear a non-N95 face covering without affecting your oxygen or carbon dioxide levels.
The World Health Organization also says that properly worn, breathable material face masks will not lead to oxygen deficiency or carbon dioxide poisoning.
For most of us, wearing a mask is new
Although we all adapt to wearing masks in public, it is important that we try to assume as little as possible about others depending on whether they wear one.
Remember, the goal of the audience wearing a mask when leaving the house is to reduce the risk of community transmission. If we can do that without vilifying people who really can’t wear masks, or who need a little extra support to do so, we all benefit.
Read more: Victorians, and anyone else at risk, should now wear face masks. Here’s how to make one
