Should face masks be federally mandated?

As the coronavirus pandemic continues around the world, debate has broken out about the use of masks or face coverings. While most disease experts suggest that wearing a mask can help stop the spread, others believe that wearing a mask should be a choice. Schools and universities are returning for classes and mask wearing has become a point of contention with anti-masks protests and inconsistent requirements around the nation. Should the federal government step in to mandate masks and face coverings?

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How wearing a face mask became politically fraught

Q&A: Are Face Mask Requirements Legal?

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Growing Body of Evidence Suggests Masks Protect Those Wearing Them, Too

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Additional resources to think about

CDC: Masks
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention provides guidelines on how use, make, wear, and wash face coverings to suppress the spread of COVID-19.

Can Teachers Really Do Their Jobs in Masks?
Some school districts are debating on whether to incorporate face coverings in the classroom setting. This article examines how teachers may face issues in educating their students when wearing a face covering.

Americans' Face Mask Usage Varies Greatly by Demographics
This article examines who wears or doesn't wear facial coverings across the U.S.

Democrats and Republicans see coronavirus differently
Across the nation, many citizens are divided on wearing facial coverings due to their political affiliation. This journalist provides a breakdown on why democrats and republican vouch or refuse to wear face coverings.

A cultural exploration of face masks during disease outbreaks
This segment from PBS NewsHour talks about the history and cultural insights of wearing a mask during an outbreak of illness and disease.

How Well Do Masks Work?
On this episode of It's Okay To Be Smart, Dr. Joe Hanson uses slow-motion schlieren imaging experiments to demonstrate how masks work and explain why they help to stop the spread of airborne infections.

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