Saying "we can't mask anymore, because at some point we have to get back to normal" is racist. Asian countries have been masking for years. What is normal is taking collective action in order to protect others, especially those most vulnerable. #BringBackMasks
#COVID #COVID19 #publichealth #epidemiology
White people who are claiming "this is a reach," Asian people, have been violently attacked in Western countries for wearing masks. Western leaders have said that "wearing masks isn't in our culture." A lot of anti-mask sentiment is deeply embedded in white supremacy.
And polls consistently show white people are far less likely to wear masks than people of color.
Poll from Oct: Have worn a mask at least some of the time in the past seven days:
White 39%
Black 77%
Hispanic 63%
(Source: https://docs.cdn.yougov.com/3vmufv6ya9/econTabReport.pdf#page46)
This is also important:
"White people who assumed the pandemic had a disparate effect on communities of color were less supportive of safety measures."
Studies show white supremacy plays a role in the opposition to public health protections.
(via https://washingtonpost.com/health/2022/10/19/covid-deaths-us-race/)
#COVID #COVID19 #HealthEquity #PublicHealth

Whites now more likely to die from covid than Blacks: Why the pandemic shifted
As the pandemic progressed, the damage done by the coronavirus broadened, and the toxicity of modern-day politics came to the fore.
The Washington Post