(TheConservativeNews.org) – The wearing of masks to combat the spread of COVID-19 has become perhaps the most politicized public health issue in American history. Left-leaning regimes in various states have insisted on increasingly strict mask-wearing rules and guidelines. Perhaps the most infamous example of this was the below tweet from Governor Gavin Newsom’s (D-CA) office, which encouraged diners to wear masks in between bites of food.
Now, these masks might become an environmental hazard.
The Californian Approach
Despite facing ridicule for this tweet and other similar moves, Newsom’s administration has pursued a relentlessly strict agenda when it comes to masks. Californians must currently wear them everywhere other than their own homes, with few exceptions. These rules apply to children as young as three years old.
Many Conservatives and political neutrals have pushed back against this, citing an intrusion on their personal freedoms. Unsurprisingly, the state’s liberal leaders have ignored these calls.
Environmental Issues
However, this approach has brought an unexpected drawback for California. A huge number of disposable masks and other items of personal protective equipment (PPE) have made their way into the San Francisco Bay. This situation has escalated quickly over the last number of weeks as seasonal storms have pushed debris and waste into waterways.
Masks and PPE are now among the most common types of litter that cleaning volunteers in the area have to deal with. The synthetic material used in this kind of medical equipment does not disintegrate easily, and so poses a serious risk to marine wildlife once it gets into the water.
Given the modern liberal preoccupation with the preservation of the environment, this is undeniably ironic. The oppressive mask regime that California’s Liberals have blindly backed poses perhaps the biggest current threat to the state’s wildlife population.
While there’s evidence of the efficacy of mask-wearing when it comes to slowing viral spread, we need to think about the balancing of interests. As this story shows, strict mask protocols do not come without costs.
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