Mask Mania

Mask mania refers to the widespread use and obsession with wearing masks. Which became prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic. People around the world started wearing masks to protect themselves and others from the virus. And it quickly became a symbol of solidarity and responsibility. While the use of masks has proven to be effective in reducing the spread of the virus. The constant wearing of masks has also led to concerns about the impact on mental health and social interaction. Nonetheless, mask mania remains an important aspect of public health and safety during the ongoing pandemic.

We never gave much thought to this entity called “mask” till the Covid bug struck us as a bolt from the blue. Till about the beginning of the year, we were free creatures, privileged to roam about of our free will. We, humans, considered ourselves as the kings of the concrete jungle. And gave two hoots for the existence of other creatures. We could catch hold of animals from their natural habitat and put them in the zoo for our entertainment. Nature paid us the same coin. And forced us to either stay indoors or cover our faces with a mask. While venturing out and life took a different turn.

If one comes to think of it, masks were worn mostly by doctors in OR (operation rooms). And laymen looked at them with awe and admiration. However, those were simple cotton masks typically green in color. Sometimes the disposable variety is tied loosely without much thought. It sort of completed the whole look of OR paraphernalia. The whole idea was to prevent infection from surgeon to patient or vice versa. Anyone working in OR felt incomplete without wearing this essential commodity. Masks have been used for various other purposes too.

Have you heard about the Masquerade balls? Where guests are required to camouflage themselves and try to identify each other? A fun event popular in Italy and other parts of Europe? Then there are masquerade masks, all sorts of fancy masks, which people wear for Halloween. There used to be a fictional comic book called “Masked Man”. Based on a crime-fighting adventure in the eighties. But by and large, only those people, who wanted to conceal their identity for nefarious designs, wore a typically black mask to cover their face. In this context, the characters which come to our mind, are the thieves, the bank robbers or the kidnappers, or any such dark personalities. That has a sinister air about them.

The quintessential masked people that we all know are the two-wheeler-riding girls. Who would leave no stone unturned to protect themselves from harsh Sun rays? And often invite the wrath of traffic police as they overdo it and sometimes are unable to see or hear clearly. After all, haven’t we all heard the song, Dhoop me nikla na karo roop ki rani gora rang kala na pad Jaye. The times have changed suddenly and this piece of cloth has now become a necessity. No sooner did the Corona menace enter our lives. We all ran to grab our share of N 95s, respirators, 3-ply masks, disposable, surgical, homemade masks, and the list goes on.

Our insanity reached alarming proportions when the healthcare providers didn’t have an adequate supply of proper masks. As every one of us wanted the best for ourselves even while staying indoors. Our leaders had to appeal to use simple handkerchiefs or gamcha as protective gear. I wouldn’t be surprised if the ladies start wearing fancy masks, which go well with their outfits. Disinfection of the mask is another worry. How do you take care of the precious N-95 mask? The net is flooded with innumerable ways of doing so, no one knows which one is effective. The day has come when we are spending more on protective gear than on luxuries. There are some hilarious stories about how a remote control mask is being devised.

Which can help you grab a bite without touching the mask or a mask that is openable to allow you to eat. The runners association has requested the authorities to allow them to venture out sans the mask. As it causes breathing difficulty while running. It has become impossible to recognize faces and deciphering the speech is another challenge. Because we can’t see the lip movements. Someone has come out with the idea of pasting your picture on the mask. Or wearing a transparent to make identification easier.  The ladies would benefit from this variety immensely. How else can they display those ornate pricey lipsticks which were carefully chosen? Like it or not this mask mania is here to stay for a while until the virus wreaks havoc in our lives.

So let’s follow this simple advice … Niklo na ghar se niqaab zamana kharab hai.

Dr. Manisha Shembekar
MD, DA
Joint Managing Director
Omega Hospital, Nagpur