What? The same mask again today?
When COVID-19 began to spread, masks became difficult to find.
And it wasn’t just drugstores.
Hospitals were running short, too.
At my workplace, there was a period when we changed our disposable masks only once every two days.
We placed washed gauze inside and continued using them.
It sounds strange now.
But back then,
every single mask was precious.
Washable masks for everyday life
Outside work, I wore washable, reusable masks.
A mask every day.
A mask wherever I went.
So I thought:
At least I can enjoy the colors and patterns.
I matched them with my clothes.
Sometimes I chose something a little brighter.
If I had to wear one anyway, I might as well find a little enjoyment in it.
That was part of life during those years, too.
The whole world put on masks
Even before COVID-19, masks were not unusual in Japan.
People wore them for colds, influenza and hay fever.
Seeing someone wearing a mask on the street was nothing special.
In some other parts of the world, however, masks had not been as common in everyday life.
The pandemic changed that landscape dramatically.
Masks became part of daily life around the world.
And now?
Some people wear masks.
Some don’t.
Others wear them only when they feel they are needed.
Our relationship with masks has changed again.
Even the days when masks were almost impossible to find are gradually becoming a distant memory.
But sometimes I wonder:
What if another major infectious disease outbreak occurs?
We don’t know when it might happen or what might cause it.
So keeping a small supply at home seems sensible.
Maybe I should keep a few extra masks.
Then I think about what I actually have at home.
Wait…
After all that trouble finding masks.
After experiencing shelves with none left.
I haven’t really prepared very much.
Once a crisis passes, humans are surprisingly good at forgetting.
Maybe writing this article is a good excuse to buy a few extra masks.
Just a few. No panic buying.
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