The Mask

When I first arrived in Mexico City, many moons ago, I was a little surprised to find a goodly number of people on the metro, in supermarkets and walking the streets who wore surgical face masks. Was this due to the pollution, I wondered? It seemed unlikely. Germaphobes then, or so I assumed. I quickly learned that the mask wearers were likely suffering from colds, and were kindly doing their bit to stop the spread of the lurgy.

Mask wearing became the norm for a couple of weeks during the swine flu pandemic. They were handed out free at metro stations by military personnel. But I never quite felt comfortable wearing a mask. A case of the British stiff upper lip at work, I suppose. There’s something of a cultural thing about mask wearing. I think I worse one a couple of times on the metro, when they were thrust into my hand.

Despite this, I have been surprised at the reluctance of the authorities in the UK to embrace the benefits of a face mask. They have repeated, over and over, the fact that a simple face mask will not prevent the wearer from becoming infected. Yes, yes, yes. We know that. But that’s not the point is it, because…

Face masks are really only any good at preventing infected persons from spreading the germs. One can walk the streets for days unaware of being infected and all the while spreading the virus hither and thither. One would imagine that the authorities might have seen the obvious benefit of a mass mask wearing policy. 

And yet here I am, extolling the benefits of a face mask, and still I do not wear one. To be fair, I am keeping away from people as much as possible and washing my hands to the point my skin has become a little translucent. I’m also a little bit reluctant to pay the ridiculously inflated prices for what are scraps of cheap fabric with a couple of strips of elastic. But still, I go to the supermarket. Soon I will go further afield. Mixing with the hoi polloi.. So  I feel it’s time to invest.

Naturally, if Mrs P and I are to wear masks, we wish to do so in style. Mexican style, because that’s how we roll. So I’ve placed an order with Contrado for four reusable, machine washable, fabric face masks. They cost £30, including delivery, but they are personalised. I chose four photos from my Mexican collection, and should have them within a week. This is the first time I’ve ordered from Contrado, but they came recommended in the Independent. A review will follow in good time.