WHN Statement on Mask Bans in the Context of the Summer Surge

As a science-driven public health organization, the World Health Network (WHN) voices its strong opposition to mask bans. Our position is based on several critical factors: masking effectively protects individuals from airborne pathogens, including SARS-CoV-2; there is no credible evidence to suggest that mask bans reduce crime; and, importantly, mask bans disproportionately endanger the most vulnerable members of our communities. The scientific evidence is clear: masks continue to be one of the most effective, affordable, and accessible means for individuals to protect themselves during the ongoing pandemic.

As the United States faces an alarming surge, with over 1,300,000 new daily COVID-19 cases and higher infection rates than during 90% of the pandemic, the idea of restricting or eliminating the right to mask is both dangerous and unconscionable. Masking remains a vital public health tool, especially as we confront a wave of infections that has the potential to overwhelm our healthcare systems and inflict long-lasting harm on our communities. The protection offered by masks is not just about individual safety but about collective responsibility to minimize the spread of the virus.

Moreover, with conservative estimates indicating that 10-25% of all acute COVID cases result in long COVID, this means that greater than 130,000-325,000 people are becoming disabled on a daily basis. We are experiencing a significant increase in long-term disability. The implications of this wave could be devastating if protective measures like masking are undermined. We must continue to prioritize the use of masks as a vital practice to safeguard public health and mitigate the severe and ongoing dangers posed by the ongoing pandemic.