The simple fabric face mask is a key agent in the fight against the global spread of COVID-19. However, beyond its role as a protective covering against coronavirus infection, the face mask is the bearer of powerful symbolic and political power and arouses intense emotions. Adopting an international perspective informed by social theory, The Face Mask in COVID Times: A Sociomaterial Analysis offers an intriguing and original investigation of the social, cultural and historical dimensions of face-masking as a practice in the age of COVID. Rather than Beck’s ‘risk society’, we are now living in a ‘COVID society’, the long-term effects of which have yet to be experienced or imagined. Everything has changed. The COVID crisis has generated novel forms of sociality and new ways of living and moving through space and time. In this new world, the face mask has become a significant object, positioned as one of the key ways people can protect themselves and others from infection with the coronavirus. The face mask is rich with symbolic meaning as well as practical value. In the words of theorist Jane Bennett, the face mask has acquired a new ‘thing-power’ as it is coming together with human bodies in these times of uncertainty, illness and death. The role of the face mask in COVID times has been the subject of debate and dissension, arousing strong feelings. The historical and cultural contexts in which face masks against COVID contagion are worn (or not worn) are important to consider. In some countries, such as Japan and other East Asian nations, face mask wearing has a long tradition. Full or partial facial coverings, such as veiling, is common practice in regions such as the Middle East. In many other countries, including most countries in the Global North, most people, beyond health care workers, have little or no experience of face masks. They have had to learn how to make sense of face masking as a protective practice and how to incorporate face masks into their everyday practices and routines. Face masking practices have become highly political. The USA has witnessed protests against face mask wearing that rest on ‘sovereign individualism’, a notion which is highly specific to the contemporary political climate in that country. Face masks have also been worn to make political statements: bearing anti-racist statements, for example, but also Trump campaign support. Meanwhile, celebrities and influencers have sought to advocate for face mask wearing as part of their branding, while art makers, museums, designers and novelty fashion manufacturers have identified the opportunity to profit from this sudden new market. Face masks have become a fashion item as well as a medical device: both a way of signifying the wearer’s individuality and beliefs and their ethical stance in relation to the need to protect their own and others’ health. The Face Mask in COVID Times: A Sociomaterial Analysis provides a short and accessible analysis of the sociomaterial dimensions of the face mask in the age of COVID-19. The book presents seven short chapters and an epilogue. We bring together sociomaterial theoretical perspectives with compelling examples from public health advice and campaigns, anti-mask activism as well as popular culture (news reports, blog posts, videos, online shopping sites, art works) to illustrate our theoretical points, and use Images to support our analysis.

In recent days, people around the world are living in panic when the Covid-19 epidemic is raging in Wuhan city - central China. On January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Covid-19 epidemic to be a global emergency medical condition. This makes everyone's spirits even more confused. Where I live and work, in Vietnam, people flock to buy medical masks. Many businesses have taken advantage of this panic mentality to reap illicit profits, by selling medical masks and hand sanitizers for 10 to 12 times the normal price. Of course, the government has intervened to stabilize the situation, but people's psychology is still insecure. As a doctor, I believe the panic comes from our inadequate knowledge of coronavirus, how it spreads. As well as knowledge about medical masks: "How to use medical masks properly and effectively, to protect yourself and those around you?" So I wrote this booklet, with the desire to give people a simple and useful understanding of coronavirus and how to prevent it from spreading in the community by wearing a proper face mask. Content includes: 1. Basic knowledge of coronavirus, as well as how it is transmitted in the community. What to do if you have signs of someone infected with coronavirus? 2. What types of medical masks are used and work to prevent coronavirus infection in the community? And how to use medical masks properly and effectively to protect yourself. 3. Some important notes to improve the body's resistance, help you fight coronavirus. Sincerely thank you!

Before the pandemic pandemic caused by corona virus, everyone panicked and went to buy masks to prevent influenza virus. And the first question that comes to our minds may be, "What kinds of masks are there? Which ones are effective in preventing the spread of flu viruses?" I see too many people who have yet to receive this knowledge. It's basic but essential at the moment - the world is coping with the most terrible epidemic ever. Therefore, I am writing this booklet with the desire to share the following 3 core things: 1. Can face mask prevent the spread of flu virus? 2. What types of masks are popular on the market? And benefits - the value of each type in preventing influenza spread? 3. How to use a mask properly to prevent the spread of influenza. I hope that this booklet will help you to gain knowledge about a flu mask so that you can make the right choices. And know how to wear a mask to protect yourself and your loved ones. Thanks! Dr. Timothy Z. Email: [email protected]

In recent days, people around the world are living in panic and panic when the severe coronary pneumonia virus is raging in Wuhan City - in central China. Currently, on January 31, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the corona virus epidemic to be a global emergency medical condition. This makes the people 's spirit even more confused. Where I live and work, in Vietnam, family members rushed to buy medical masks. Many businesses have taken advantage of this worrying psychology to profit, selling medical masks and hand sanitizer for 10 to 12 times the normal price. Of course the government and authorities have stepped in to stabilize the situation, but people's psychology is still insecure. As a doctor, I believe that the panic comes from people not being fully equipped with corona virus, how it spreads, as well as medical masks that help protect against viral infections or not, how to use medical masks properly and effectively. So I wrote this booklet, with the desire to give people a true - simple - useful understanding of corona virus and how to prevent it from spreading in the community. Specifically include: 1. Basic knowledge of corona virus, as well as how it is transmitted in the community. What to do if you have signs of someone infected with corona virus? 2. What types of medical masks are used and work to prevent corona virus infection in the community? And how to use medical masks properly and effectively. 3. Some important notes to improve the body's resistance, help fight corona virus effectively. Sincerely thank you!

Do we really need to wear masks? From the New York Times Bestselling authors of Plague of Corruption comes the must-read guide on masks and re-opening following the COVID-19 pandemic. THE CASE AGAINST MASKS is the book all America needs to be reading as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Written by New York Times bestselling authors Dr. Judy Mikovits and Kent Heckenlively, this book reviews the evidence for and against widespread public masking as provided by the Centers for Disease Control and the Mayo Clinic, as well as top scientific publications such as the New England Journal of Medicine and The Lancet. This debate needs to take place without fear and paranoia. Important questions raised in this book are the affect of masks on oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, how SARS-CoV-2 spreads, the effectiveness of various types of masks, those who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, and whether our children should go back to school in the fall, and if so, what measures they should take. The authors' previous book, PLAGUE OF CORRUPTION, was the runaway science bestseller of 2020, and the authors bring that same passion and attention to detail to the mask question. As politicians and bureaucrats of all stripes are weighing in on this question, with some placing their cities and states under mandatory masking provisions, we need to understand the science behind their decisions. Are such measures a reasonable response to current circumstances, or is it a dramatic overreach, which in many cases might make the situation even worse? America desperately needs this public conversation to take place with the best science we have available. As Americans have always done during difficult times, we must summon the courage to have these challenging conversations.

Masks have been a ubiquitous and oft-politicized aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic. Years of painstakingly organized pre-pandemic planning documents led public health experts to initially discourage the use of masks, or even insinuate that they could lead to increased rates of spread. Yet seemingly in a matter of days in spring 2020, leading infectious disease scientists and organizations reversed their previous positions and recommended masking as the key tool to slow the spread of COVID and dramatically reduce infections. Unmasked tells the story of how effective or ineffective masks and mask mandate policies were in impacting the trajectory of the pandemic throughout the world. Author Ian Miller covers the earliest days of the pandemic, from experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci contradicting their previous statements and recommending masks as the most important policy intervention against the spread of COVID, to the months afterward as many locations around the globe mandated masks in nearly all public settings. With easy-to-understand charts and visual aids, along with detailed, clear explanations of the dramatic shift in policy and expectations, Unmasked makes the data-driven case that masks might not have achieved the goals that Fauci and other public health experts created.

These days, we are panicking at the raging of corona virus. At first glance, China's health authorities underestimated their danger. And so far, its destructive power is the most terrible among the diseases that humans have experienced in the last 100 years. At the place where I work, people are rushing to buy medical masks. And business people take advantage of this to increase the price of masks and handwash to 10-12 times normal. As a doctor, I understand why this situation occurs. This is because most people do not yet know the corona virus and how it is transmitted. So, I took the time to write a file about corona virus (Everything about coronavirus and how to protect yourself), and a guide on how to choose and use medical masks properly (Everything about face masks and Coronavirus). And now, I feel I need to continue to teach people how to wash their hands properly. Because of this, along with wearing a mask, are the two most important things to help prevent the spread of corona virus in the community. In this booklet, I will share the following 3 main content: 1. Why should I wash my hands during the coronavirus outbreak? The benefits that handwashing brings to each of us help prevent disease spread. 2. How to wash your hands properly according to the instructions of reputable health organizations. 3. Finally, I will share the type of hand sanitizer recommended by health professionals. I hope that my knowledge and colleagues from health organizations around the globe will help people take the initiative in preventing the spread of corona virus disease. And we will repel it soon. Sincerely thank you! Dr. Timothy Zahar [email protected]