Even in conspiracy-soaked USA, there is a general consensus (amongst half the population anyway) that masks are an effective barrier against transmission. In the UK, it’s not an issue of liberty or constitutional rights – aka our rights and freedom to infect who we like. Instead there’s confusion about the effectiveness of masks, partly down to their initial dismissal by scientists early in the pandemic. That was driven in part by the need to preserve stocks of PPE for the health services and prevent panic buying of masks by the public. Once you’ve told a lie it’s hard to take it back.

Now there’s a half-cocked policy re mask wearing, and a total reluctance to impose any sort of joined up thinking that might actually make sense. In the US, Trumpers reject masks because the democrats embrace them. In the UK, masks are starting to be lumped together with lock-downs… but nothing could be farther from the truth. Mask wearing (together with distancing, washing hands etc) is a small price to pay that doesn’t harm the economy and makes it possible to get on with our lives.

The main reason for rejecting prevention measures of any kind seems to be pure selfishness.

Ed: Since writing this, back in November last year, US-style dissent has grown significantly in the UK.