The Protests Against Masks and Quarantine

by Ammy Y. ‘22

Mask: a covering made of fiber or gauze that fits over the nose and mouth. Quarantine: a state, period, or place of isolation. None of us are strangers to these two terms. They have become synonymous with daily life in the USA ever since the spread of COVID-19 became a fully-fledged pandemic. However, from the moment public health mandates began urging citizens to self-isolate and wear facial coverings in public, the backlash against doing so has been swift and ferocious. While many Americans follow public health recommendations, others passionately fight against them, refusing to quarantine themselves or wear masks when in proximity to strangers. 

This anti-mask/quarantine sentiment is due to a myriad of reasons. For some, refusing to wear a mask is the result of one too many confusing messages sent by public health officials. When the virus first appeared in the US, officials said masks were not necessary for anyone who was asymptomatic. People were even discouraged from buying them, as the US was experiencing a shortage of masks for essential healthcare workers. However, by early April, the CDC backtracked and said new research showed that “masks are likely to reduce the spread of COVID-19 when they are widely used by people in public settings.” In spite of this, the damage of miscommunication had already been done, and so, many people doubted the effectiveness of masks against coronavirus. 

Other people say that being ordered to wear masks infringes upon their personal freedom, and that the government has no right to “muzzle” its citizens. Those who protest against quarantine often follow this same train of thought. One of the first protests was in Michigan on April 15, 2020, where protesters opposed the shelter-in-place orders in their states for various reasons, including the belief that lockdowns were a violation of their constitutional rights, as well as their desire for businesses to reopen so they could go back to work. These protestors 

The controversy over masks and quarantine has also become political, with a Gallup poll showing that 75% of Democrats say they wear a mask in public, while only 58% of Republicans say they do. This is in line with messaging from leaders within the two parties; Democratic leaders like Joe Biden have been vocal about the importance of face masks. In August, Biden stated that “every single American should be wearing a mask when they’re outside for the next three months at a minimum." In contrast, Republicans leaders like President Donald Trump himself have been more hesitant to mandate masks, even as Covid-19 cases have continued to grow. The president has even suggested that wearing a mask could be seen as a political statement against him and has mocked Biden for wearing one. Anti-quarantine protestors are also more likely to be pro-Trump, with many displaying pro-Trump banners, signs, and MAGA hats.

Regardless of the origins of these protests, it would be naive to think of them as harmless. In New Jersey, a man was charged with making terroristic threats when he allegedly became combative after being asked to leave a store. In Texas, a woman started flinging groceries from her cart after reportedly refusing to keep her mask on. In Flint, Michigan, an employee was shot after telling a customer her daughter had to wear a face mask to enter the store. There have also been anti-quarantine protests where protestors open-carried AR-15 and AK-47 variants. Beyond the potentially dangerous nature of protestors themselves, there is also inherent harm in the gathering of several maskless people in a confined area. Doing so only increases the spread of the virus, and those who do so only inspire others to do the same.