Ideas About Face Masks From Around the World
2020-08-03
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1Not since humans invented shoes or underwear has a single item of clothing become so common in such a short amount of time.
2From Melbourne to Mexico City, Beijing to Bordeaux, many people can be seen wearing this piece of clothing: the face mask.
3But rarely, maybe never, has anything else worn by humans created such widespread debate.
4Jeremy Howard is the co-founder of #Masks4All, a group supporting face mask use for everyone.
5Speaking recently about masks, Howard said there has probably never been such a quick and "dramatic" change in worldwide human behavior.
6Yet not everyone is accepting of this safety measure, which health officials say is aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus.
7Plenty of people do not like being told what to do.
8Many also do not trust scientific evidence suggesting that masks can be an effective way to reduce new infections.
9At demonstrations in the United States, Canada and Britain, people have criticized face masks.
10At one recent protest in London, a person argued against mask-wearing requirements in stores, saying: "People die every year. This is nothing new."
11Mohammed al-Burji, a 42-year-old government worker in Lebanon, shared his thoughts on wearing masks with The Associated Press.
12He said he walks to work without a mask and does not worry.
13"There is no coronavirus, brother. They're just deceiving people."
14As of July 24, Lebanon had reported over 3,400 coronavirus infections and 46 deaths.
15Officials have made public appeals for people to keep wearing masks and to practice social distancing.
16In Mexico City, Estima Mendoza says she feels shock and fear when seeing people not wearing masks.
17"I feel defenseless. On one hand I judge them, and on the other I ask myself 'Why?" Mendoza said. "As human beings, we always judge."
18In France, masks resulted in an unexpected benefit for Maria Dabo.
19She no longer feels so different in a country that has made laws to prevent Muslim women from wearing face coverings.
20"I feel like we are a bit better understood," Dabo said.
21"Everyone is obliged to do the same as us, which makes me believe that God is busy teaching people a lesson, that covering up isn't religious or anything else. It's about not being a fool and protecting oneself."
22Masks can even divide families.
23Yu Jungyul, a child-health worker in Seoul, South Korea, says she has to ask her husband to wear one often.
24She says she tells him: "'We have to wear masks for other people now, rather than only for ourselves.'"
25Shopping with her young children, French museum worker Celine Brunet-Moret said she misses not being able to see emotions on people's faces.
26"You don't see people smiling or if they are OK or not," Brunet-Moret said.
27"It's not the same life and it's not the normal life," she added.
28"So I'm thinking that we'll never get used to it..."
29But across the street from the shop where Brunet-Moret was buying cheese, Laure Estiez said that going out without one of her home-made masks now feels "almost unnatural."
30She says every morning she goes through a process of picking colors to match her mood and clothing.
31She says this daily activity has become "a pleasure."
32"We have a very strong capacity for adaptation," she said.
33"You get used to everything."
34I'm John Russell.
1Not since humans invented shoes or underwear has a single item of clothing become so common in such a short amount of time. From Melbourne to Mexico City, Beijing to Bordeaux, many people can be seen wearing this piece of clothing: the face mask. 2But rarely, maybe never, has anything else worn by humans created such widespread debate. 3Jeremy Howard is the co-founder of #Masks4All, a group supporting face mask use for everyone. Speaking recently about masks, Howard said there has probably never been such a quick and "dramatic" change in worldwide human behavior. 4Yet not everyone is accepting of this safety measure, which health officials say is aimed at reducing the spread of the coronavirus. Plenty of people do not like being told what to do. Many also do not trust scientific evidence suggesting that masks can be an effective way to reduce new infections. 5At demonstrations in the United States, Canada and Britain, people have criticized face masks. At one recent protest in London, a person argued against mask-wearing requirements in stores, saying: "People die every year. This is nothing new." 6Mohammed al-Burji, a 42-year-old government worker in Lebanon, shared his thoughts on wearing masks with The Associated Press. He said he walks to work without a mask and does not worry. "There is no coronavirus, brother. They're just deceiving people." 7As of July 24, Lebanon had reported over 3,400 coronavirus infections and 46 deaths. Officials have made public appeals for people to keep wearing masks and to practice social distancing. 8In Mexico City, Estima Mendoza says she feels shock and fear when seeing people not wearing masks. "I feel defenseless. On one hand I judge them, and on the other I ask myself 'Why?" Mendoza said. "As human beings, we always judge." 9In France, masks resulted in an unexpected benefit for Maria Dabo. She no longer feels so different in a country that has made laws to prevent Muslim women from wearing face coverings. 10"I feel like we are a bit better understood," Dabo said. "Everyone is obliged to do the same as us, which makes me believe that God is busy teaching people a lesson, that covering up isn't religious or anything else. It's about not being a fool and protecting oneself." 11Masks can even divide families. Yu Jungyul, a child-health worker in Seoul, South Korea, says she has to ask her husband to wear one often. She says she tells him: "'We have to wear masks for other people now, rather than only for ourselves.'" 12Shopping with her young children, French museum worker Celine Brunet-Moret said she misses not being able to see emotions on people's faces. 13"You don't see people smiling or if they are OK or not," Brunet-Moret said. "It's not the same life and it's not the normal life," she added. "So I'm thinking that we'll never get used to it..." 14But across the street from the shop where Brunet-Moret was buying cheese, Laure Estiez said that going out without one of her home-made masks now feels "almost unnatural." She says every morning she goes through a process of picking colors to match her mood and clothing. She says this daily activity has become "a pleasure." 15"We have a very strong capacity for adaptation," she said. "You get used to everything." 16I'm John Russell. 17John Leicester wrote this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 18_______________________________________________________________ 19Words in This Story 20mask - n. a covering used to protect your face or cover your mouth 21dramatic - adj. sudden and extreme 22deceive - v. to make (someone) believe something that is not true 23benefit - n. a good or helpful result or effect 24oblige - v. to force or require (someone or something) to do something because of a law or rule or because it is necessary 25mood - n. the way someone feels : a person's emotional state 26capacity - n. the ability to do something : a mental, emotional, or physical ability 27adaptation - n. a change in a plant or animal that makes it better able to live in a particular place or situation; the process of changing to fit some purpose or situation : the process of adapting 28We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section