Face masks make a political statement in era of coronavirus

decision to wear a mask in public is becoming a political statement — a moment to pick sides in a brewing culture war over containing coronavirus.

While t yet as loaded as a “Make America Great Again” hat, mask is increasingly a visual shorthand for a debate pitting those willing to follow health officials' guidance and cover ir faces against those who feel it violates ir freedom or buys into a threat y think is overblown.

That resistance is fueled by

“re’s such a strong culture of individualism that, even if it’s going to help protect m, people don’t want government telling m what to do,” said Linsey Marr, a Virginia Tech engineering professor with experience in airborne transmission of viruses.

Inconclusive science and shifting federal guidance have doubt muddied political debate. Health officials initially said wearing masks was unnecessary, especially amid a short of protective materials. But last month, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention began recommending wearing cloth masks in public to prevent transmitting virus to ors.

Wher Americans are embracing change may depend on ir political party. While most or protective measures like social distancing get broad bipartisan support, Democrats are more likely than Republicans to say y're wearing a mask when leaving home, 76% to 59%, according to a recent poll by Associated Press-RC Center for Public Affairs Research.

split is clear across several demographics that lean Democratic. People with college degrees are more likely than those without to wear masks when leaving home, 78% to 63%. African Americans are more likely than eir white people or Hispanic Americans to say y’re wearing masks outside home, 83% to 64% and 67%, respectively.

table exception is among older people, a group particularly vulnerable to serious illness from virus. Some 79% of those 60 and over were doing so compared with 63% of those younger.

“Who kws what truth is on masks?” asked Republican Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, who, unlike some of his colleagues, went without a mask Tuesday in Senate. Paul already contracted virus and believes he is longer contagious.

His comments were a long way from New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo's moral argument for mask a few days earlier.

“How people cant wear masks — that to me is even disrespectful,” Cuomo said. “You put so many people at risk because you did t want to wear a mask?"

Effectiveness aside, politicians of both parties are clued into powerful symbolism of mask, and many Americans take ir cues from president.

Trump was barefaced when he spoke to masked journalists, workers and Secret Service nts at Arizona factory Tuesday. He later said he briefly wore a mask backst but took it off because facility personnel told him he didn't need it.

But Trump has been mask averse for weeks. Within minutes of CDC anuncing its updated mask recommendations, he said, “I don’t think that I’m going to be doing it.”

Trump has told advisers that he believes wearing one would “send wrong mess,” according to one administration and two campaign officials t authorized to publicly discuss private conversations. president said doing so would make it seem like he is preoccupied with health instead of focused on reopening nation’s ecomy — which his aides believe is key to his reelection chances in vember.

Moreover, Trump, who is kwn to be especially cognizant of his appearance on television, has also told confidants that he fears he would look ridiculous in a mask and im would appear in negative ads, according to one of officials.

“It’s a vanity thing, I guess, with him,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said of Trump on MSNBC. “You’d think, as president of United States, you would have confidence to hor guidance he’s giving country.”

That's left those around him unsure of how to proceed. White House aides say president hasn’t told m t to wear m, but few do. Some Republican allies have asked Trump's campaign how it would be viewed by White House if y were spotted wearing a mask, according to two campaign officials who spoke on condition of anymity because y weren't authorized to discuss private conversations.

Meanwhile, Trump's reelection campaign has ordered red Trump-branded masks for supporters and is considering giving m away at events or in return for donations. But some advisers are concerned president will later sour on idea, according to one campaign official.

That uncertainty was on display last week, when Vice President Mike Pence went maskless at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. He later ackwledged he should have worn one and did use a mask during a subsequent trip to a ventilator plant.

issue has been far less fraught for Democrats, whose presumptive presidential minee, Joe Biden, has said he wears a mask when interacting with Secret Service.

Dilemmas for politicians and or Americans are only going to increase as parts of country begin easing stay-at-home orders and businesses reopen with new rules. tensions have already flared in Michigan, where

One of earliest communities to require masks in public was Laredo, Texas. A $1,000 ncompliance fine was negated by an order from goverr, but Mayor Pete Saenz said his community is still asking citizens to comply so hospitals aren't overtaxed with new cases.

“We don’t want to violate anyone’s civil liberties,” Saenz said. But "we can’t help you, if it’s beyond our medical capacity, wher you exercise your civil liberties or t.”