Although at first its effectiveness against COVID-19 was a matter of debate , masks have become a common accessory in the population.
People are counteracting the rigor of the health emergency with their faces covered by skulls, cartoon characters, and even lucha libre wrestlers . People in Mexico City have adopted masks as another item in their daily outfits, which even combines perfectly with their different personalities.
With over 4,000 COVID-19 deaths and over 42,000 contagions in Mexico, masks currently cost between MXN$10 AND $20 ; very few citizens are not following the health measures implemented throughout the country.
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Hence, these masks that seem to be more resistant , safe , and that help reduce the amount of waste - something that cannot be achieved with disposable masks – are now worn by police officers, soldiers, clowns, and all kinds of people.
A few months ago, the benefits of masks were highly questioned and people used them mostly as bandanas or to add some style to their outfits in music festivals leaving aside the protection factor that comes with them. Nowadays, the use of masks is mandatory in public spaces.
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Even children , who seem to be less vulnerable to the new coronavirus, are wearing this personal protective equipment.
In addition, despite the pandemic, relatives of missing persons came together on May 10 wearing masks not only to protect themselves from COVID-19 but to fight for the safe return of their loved ones.
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Likewise, groups that are against domestic and gender violence and femicide , have taken to the streets using their masks for protest.
Of course, there are still people who think the use of masks is not enough and wear another kind of protection in their heads. Such is the case of Angélica, who travels from the State of Mexico to Mexico City with a piece of plastic in her head to protect herself in public transport.
Although the designs of the masks vary from person to person, what remains is the need to go out while staying protected. Whether they are youths or elders, private or public workers, the sense of vulnerability seems to decrease by wearing these accessories made at home or bought in the street from vendors that have been forced to adapt to the new needs of the market.
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