OPINION: End of an era? Long live the mask

“Mandatory wearing of masks in public and open spaces is now lifted.” 

And with those twelve words, Health Cabinet Secretary Mutahi Kagwe effectively gave Kenyans permission to take off their masks whilst in public. 

Something that was practically impossible to do for a major part of the last two years. 

As one of the first African countries to do this the Ministry’s logic was that the focus is no longer on prevention of the Covid-19 virus but vaccination.

The mask, a simple piece of fabric, has become a symbol of hope, safety and controversy at the same time over the last two years. 

I remember when I bought my first mask. 

It was in late February 2020. 

The country had still not reported any Covid-19 cases but the virus was spreading around the world at an exponential rate. 

As a journalist, I religiously followed news of the spread of the virus in locations like Wuhan, China or northern Italy alarmed by a disease that had baffled even the experts. 

So, one day I drove to a chemist near our office and asked them to give me a box of masks. 

Surgical masks were not easily available in chemists then so they gave me another type…paper-like in nature…for a whopping Ksh.2000.

I wish I bought more because one month later the same box was at least Ksh.4000.

A few weeks later the Ministry of Health announced the first positive case in the country and my Ksh.2000 investment no longer seemed silly. 

By then masks were flying off the shelves of chemists in droves.

The Government at that point announced that mask use should be restricted to those in the medical community who were treating patients in hospitals. 

But a few days later in a confusing announcement on the 6th of April 2020 the Government announced mandatory use of masks in public. 

 A move intended to save lives but one that also led to the loss of lives of others as unsuspecting Kenyans found without their masks at night were extorted, beaten or in extreme cases killed by overzealous police officers. 

Immediately there were complaints about the costs of masks as vendors took advantage of the demand to raise prices. 

The Government responded with some successful and other unsuccessful measures to provide masks to Kenyans. 

Institutions like the Kitui County Textile Centre stepped up to make masks that were more affordable but in other quarters Kenyans continue to await the findings of the KEMSA scandal where PPE’s including masks were procured at exorbitant prices. 

Some experts opine that masks have generally improved hygiene standards and reduced the spread not just of Covid-19 but also other respiratory diseases. 

However, some medical experts in a US study who wore masks for long hours complained of headaches, sensitivity and acne. Critics of mask-wearing have described it as a 2-year experiment in behaviour change. 

Some in the US and other parts of the world have resisted donning masks stating that it infringes on their freedom to choose. But generally, the consensus is that masks have been forces for good. 

The type of masks available also metamorphosized. At first surgical masks were the most commonly available. And then a trend of fabric masks popped up, some in Ankara colours, beautiful to look at but hard to breath in. 

At some point, the ominous-looking N95’s were all the rage but with time their popularity has dipped. Now black masks seem to dominate the landscape, a hybrid of style and efficiency. 

For two years it’s been practically impossible to see people’s faces. 

And now as I walk around the office there are those who say that they aren’t ready to remove their masks just yet. 

Indeed, for some the mask is dead. But for others, long live the mask.

Waihiga Mwaura is the Managing Editor - Multimedia and News Anchor at Royal Media Services