But of course, mask wearing has become a culture war issue. Wear a mask in close quarters? Shit, I would rather kneel for the anthem. My mask-free face is a symbol of my individuality and my belief in a personal freedom.
It was easy to see it coming: Trump advised mask wearing when the recommendation started, but also went out of his way to state that he would certainly not be wearing one. Pence tours a Covid ward and is the only person who can't be bothered to wear one. Trump tours a mask factory, refusing to wear a mask. Cities like San Antonio and Austin put teeth into mask ordinances, only to have Gov. Hot Wheels (after putting his finger in the air to see which way the conservative wind was blowing) completely gut local control by making it an unenforceable recommendation.
The new study from Austria shows that mask wearing reduces Covid transmission by 90%. It should be an easy sell, Golden Rule issue for the already-vulnerable MAGA crowd. But, they have confused something that is a minor inconvenience for the collective good with the concept of "fighting tyranny."