COVID-19 Crisis... Countries Struggle with Anti-Mask Protests

Global COVID-19 Cases Surpass 17 Million
No Sign of Slowing Spread... Some Citizens Stage 'Anti-Mask Protests'
Experts Say "Government's Inconsistent Recommendations Fuel Distrust"

Donald Trump, President of the United States, wearing a mask to prevent the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19), is touring the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington DC on the 30th (local time). / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] As the global cumulative number of confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) surpassed 17 million and the spread of COVID-19 shows no signs of abating, more countries are mandating mask-wearing in public places. However, some citizens in these countries refuse to wear masks, staging protests or resorting to violence, causing governments worldwide considerable difficulties.

According to the international statistics site 'Worldometer,' as of 1 a.m. on the 30th (Greenwich Mean Time), the global cumulative number of confirmed COVID-19 cases reached 17,171,000, surpassing 17 million just seven months after the first confirmed case. The cumulative death toll reached 669,242.

The spread shows no signs of slowing down. The cumulative confirmed cases exceeded 10 million on the 27th of last month, then surpassed 15 million on the 21st?just 25 days later?followed by 16 million four days after that, and 17 million on the day of reporting.

In the United States, Europe, and other regions, governments are increasingly mandating mask-wearing in public places to curb the spread of COVID-19.

In the United States, which currently ranks first worldwide in cumulative confirmed cases, President Donald Trump expressed opposition to a nationwide mask mandate policy during an interview with Fox News on the 17th, stating, "There must be definite freedom." Nevertheless, more than 30 states have independently mandated mask-wearing, regardless of the federal president's stance.

In Europe, major countries including the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain have passed laws imposing fines on those who do not wear masks in public places.

On the 19th (local time), a man participating in a protest against the government's mask mandate in London, UK, is wearing a mask with an open face area. / Photo by Yonhap News

Despite these efforts, citizens refusing to wear masks continue to appear both domestically and internationally. Some citizens have even caused bloody conflicts over mask-wearing.

In the United States, anti-mask protests were held in states where mask-wearing is mandatory. According to the American daily 'The New York Times,' Florida passed a law mandating mask-wearing in public places starting from the 20th of last month, but on the 11th, some citizens gathered in front of a restaurant to protest against mask-wearing. The restaurant owner had even held an event the previous day (the 10th) offering 100 free meals to customers who came without masks.

In the United Kingdom, which passed a law on the 15th imposing fines of ?50 to ?100 (approximately 77,500 to 155,000 KRW) for not wearing masks on public transportation, anti-mask protests broke out in various locations.

According to reports from The Independent and Daily Mail, on the 19th, hundreds of citizens gathered near Hyde Park in central London to protest the government's mask mandate and demand its withdrawal.

Protesters expressed their dissent by wearing masks with holes over the mouth and nose or by wearing masks instead of underwear while naked, among other ridiculous outfits.

In France, where mask-wearing is mandatory on public transportation, a bus driver in his 50s who was assaulted by a group of passengers refusing to wear masks and was receiving hospital treatment died on the 11th. At that time, French Prime Minister Jean Castex wrote on his Twitter, "The nation recognizes and will not forget him as a model citizen who was viciously assaulted while faithfully performing his duties," emphasizing, "We will severely punish the heinous criminals according to the law."

Meanwhile, in South Korea, cases of some citizens refusing to wear masks on buses, subways, and other public transportation have continued to occur. According to data released by the Seoul Metropolitan Government on the 26th, a total of 162 incidents involving refusal to wear masks, assaults on drivers, or disputes among passengers occurred over two months since the mask mandate on public transportation was implemented on May 26. This averages to about 3.2 mask-related incidents per day.

Jerome Adams, Director of the Public Health Service Commissioned Corps (PHSCC), responsible for public health and hygiene in the United States, is wearing a mask while attending a roundtable meeting on plasma donation held at the American Red Cross headquarters in Washington DC on the 30th, presided over by President Trump. / Photo by Yonhap News

Experts point to inconsistent government policies and messaging as the reason why some citizens resist wearing masks.

American psychologist Shane Owens told the Huffington Post in an interview, "Inconsistent recommendations have fostered distrust in the government among citizens, leading to resistance against mask-wearing."

In fact, the U.S. government initially did not recommend mask-wearing for the general public due to concerns about shortages of masks for medical personnel. Earlier, on February 2, when COVID-19 began to spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised against mask-wearing for the general public.

At that time, the CDC explained in guidelines posted on its official website, "We do not recommend that the general public wear masks to prevent COVID-19 transmission," adding, "Wearing masks is not as important as frequent handwashing or avoiding close contact with people who may be infected."

However, two months later, on April 4, the CDC reversed its previous guidelines and issued new recommendations encouraging the use of general cloth masks in public places. Nevertheless, due to concerns about shortages of medical masks, the CDC recommended that non-medical personnel wear "face coverings made of cloth, not medical masks."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.