Mask Shaming
These days, if you’re caught outside without a mask, you can expect to be denied entry to nearly every restaurant, store, and any other kind of public building—not to mention the slew of side glares you’ll get from your fellow Worcesterites. Across the country, Worcester included, we’ve seen a drastic increase in the “if I can wear a mask, so can you” sentiment. On August 9, 2020, an obstetrician/gynecologist from UMass Memorial, Dr. Luu D. Ireland, even went viral after tweeting a photo of herself on shift wearing an N95 mask with the caption:
“I spent 24 hours in this N95 doing 7 c-sections, 3 vaginal deliveries including one for twins, managed a severe postpartum hemorrhage, and spent another 2hrs in the OR with a GYN emergency.
You can spend 30 min in a mask at the grocery store.
#WearADamnMask #MasksSaveLives”
Her post received over 20,000 likes and 5,000 retweets in only a few days. And this is but one of the many stories Worcester has seen urging others to don a mask and do their part.