“You’ve Got a Friend in Me!” Tom Hanks Shows Subway Riders How to Protect Their Health
When Tom Hanks was recently spotted riding the subway in New York City, social media quickly lit up. At first, the beloved actor was seen wearing a medical mask, and later, in a follow-up sighting, he appeared to have upgraded to a respirator, a much stronger level of protection, and a more appropriate tool for the job of preventing infection from an airborne virus. As the World Health Network (WHN) and other public health authorities have emphasized, medical masks are not personal protective equipment (PPE). Only well-fitted respirators (such as N95 or FFP2/3) provide effective protection against airborne viruses like SARS-CoV-2, so it’s encouraging to see Tom well equipped with a respirator to avoid COVID infection.
Hanks talks about masking as part of his routine in a recent appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where he explained he masks in crowded settings as a way to safeguard his health. “I’ve had COVID enough in my life. I don’t need to do that again, so I’m doing this for health reasons,” said Hanks. In a cultural climate where masking has often been politicized or stigmatized, Hanks’ casual, good-humored endorsement served as a refreshing reminder: taking steps to protect yourself and others is both sensible and considerate. His visible comfort and confidence in masking on national television helps reframe it as a simple act of self-care and community care. It’s not preventing him from living his life. It’s enabling him to live his life.
In making this public appearance and helping to normalize masking, he’s become an unexpected and inadvertent ambassador for smarter masking in shared public spaces. In his appearance on The Late Show, Colbert asks Hanks “how much does this work?” Hanks matter of factly responded “it pretty much works all the time” before going on to explain that he masks to avoid getting sick, which would interfere with his work on a play. In a world still navigating respiratory viruses and numerous risks posed by COVID infection, Hanks reminds us that protecting your health is an act of kindness to yourself and everyone around you.
Might other celebrities learn from the example Tom Hanks is setting and follow suit? Only time will tell. In the meantime, let’s be like Tom. Mask up (with a respirator), talk about masking to normalize masking, and do your best to keep yourself and those around you safe and healthy from airborne illnesses.
