An unnamed senior White House official scoffed at the idea of sending free N95 masks to Americans because some won’t wear them, according to a new report from Politico. The incident is reminiscent of when White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki scoffed at the idea of sending free Covid-19 tests to homes, before backing down just two weeks later.
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The White House is currently considering a plan to send free or heavily discounted N95 and KN95 masks in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus, which is currently ravaging the country.
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The CDC is reportedly considering a change to its guidance that would recommend that Americans use N95 masks when available, as higher-quality masks better protect the mask wearer from infection with Covid-19. However, the CDC guidance is still just hearsay at this point, with no official announcement apparently.
And yet Politico reports that the Biden administration is still trying to decide whether providing high-quality masks for free would be a good idea, since “half the country won’t wear them,” according to a senior official.
The White House had previously mocked a proposal that Americans should be able to get free Covid-19 tests at home, but after receiving heavy criticism, it changed its mind.
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Public health officials in the United States have scoffed at the idea of masks since the beginning of the pandemic, saying they don't help at all, even as health experts in Asia have insisted they are vital to fighting the disease. Large studies have shown that masks work, and higher-quality masks work better than cloth masks.
Information source: gizmodo.com
