Why Plague Doctor Masks Should Return by Mattan Masri- September 10th

   During times of the coronavirus pandemic, everyone is expected to wear a mask. While it is generally agreed upon that masks are effective and necessary for slowing the virus (at least by those with an IQ above that of the average lawn chair), many find masks uncomfortable and perturbing to wear. Some people even blatantly refuse to wear masks in public, despite the obvious hazards of not wearing a mask. Masks are typically regarded as something for us to tolerate by necessity, but I disagree with this notion. I say we should embrace masks. I say we should use the opportunity presented to us. The opportunity to bring back plague doctor masks. 

    Plague doctors, as the name suggests, were physicians who attempted treatment of the bubonic plague in Europe during the medieval and renaissance periods. They are most famous for their eerie, bird-like masks, used to protect them from the pestilence (see, even people in medieval times understood that masks help prevent disease). The beaks of the masks were often stuffed with pleasant-smelling herbs because doctors at the time believed that disease was transmitted through unpleasant, tainted odors, this is known as the miasma theory. While this is all well and interesting, you may be wondering why such strange, and somewhat creepy apparel may be relevant in modern-day? Of course, there is the obvious plague analog, but why would such outdated masks be relevant?

    Why should we start wearing them again? The answer is quite simple: to make masks enjoyable. As stated before, many see wearing a mask as an inconvenience, and this contributes to the number of people who refuse to wear a mask, despite the public health risks. Integrating plague doctor masks into modern fashion could make wearing a mask be seen as much less of an annoyance, or even be considered enjoyable. People would happily wear masks because of the sheer novelty. This concept does not just apply to plague doctor masks, any form of a unique mask that can be altered to also provide protection from the virus could be embraced as a fashionable accessory. There are sure to be those with misgivings towards these stylish masks, but none that cannot be addressed.

    For starters, many plague doctor masks are largely just cosmetic, providing little real protection against pathogens, but this could be easily handled. Surely it would not be too difficult to simply craft a mask with all the protective properties of a normal surgical mask built into it, or, alternatively, wear a normal surgical mask underneath your fashion mask. Another concern is that masks that cover the entire face provide too much anonymity for criminals to take advantage of, but one could already easily conceal the rest of their face with something as simple as sunglasses if they are wearing a normal mask. Furthermore, there is no reason certain establishments such as banks could easily require visitors to refrain from using decorative face coverings. While it might be viewed as uncouth to wear a plague doctor mask in a professional setting, it may be worn in more open or casual locations and provide added viral protection, much like a face shield.

    Ultimately, a resurgence of plague doctor masks could be very beneficial to counteract the backlash masks receive from being uncomfortable or unfashionable. Instead of bearing through the pandemic with gritted teeth as we struggle against the new normal, we should embrace and adapt to the necessary changes, in order to make the tiresome safety procedures into something vaguely enjoyable while still promoting public health.