Violet Affleck, the 18-year-old daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, has taken a public stand against mask bans, urging Los Angeles officials to implement mask mandates in medical facilities to mitigate the risk of long COVID. Speaking at a Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors meeting, Violet introduced herself as a Los Angeles resident and first-time voter. She shared her personal experience with a post-viral condition she developed in 2019, emphasizing that her ordeal highlighted the limitations of medicine in addressing the consequences of even minor viruses.
“The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown that into sharper relief,” Violet stated. She pointed out that one in ten infections leads to long COVID, a debilitating condition that can severely impact neurological and cardiovascular health, affecting people’s ability to work, move, see, and even think. To combat this, she called for the availability of masks and other preventive measures such as air filtration and far UV-C light in government facilities, including jails. She also advocated for mask mandates in county medical facilities.
“We must expand the availability of high-quality, free tests and treatment,” Violet urged. “And most importantly, the county must oppose mask bans for any reason. They do not keep us safer. They make more vulnerable members of our community less safe and make everyone less able to participate in Los Angeles together.”
Violet’s comments come at a time when COVID cases are rising again in the U.S., particularly in western states. Since the pandemic began, millions of Americans have experienced long COVID, also known as post-COVID syndrome. According to the Mayo Clinic, symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, memory loss, generalized pain, and orthostasis, among other issues. Mask mandates were widely implemented across the U.S. during the height of the pandemic in 2020, but most places have since lifted these requirements. Recently, some cities have even considered banning masks, a development that concerns those who rely on them for protection against illness.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has supported a mask ban in New York City’s subway system to prevent criminals from covering their faces, with exceptions for health-related mask use. Similarly, a local alderman in Chicago proposed a mask ban earlier this month, and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has considered a mask ban for protesters to facilitate the identification of those committing crimes, according to the Los Angeles Times. California’s Division of Public Health rescinded its mask requirement for medical professionals in February when COVID cases declined but indicated that it could reinstate the mandate if the threat of COVID increases. The department still recommends that those infected with COVID or who may have been exposed wear a mask, as well as people who are vulnerable to getting sick, such as the elderly or those with medical conditions.
Strategic masking, or “wearing a mask where and when it might matter most,” can be an effective way to reduce the risk of COVID, according to a 2023 report from Yale Medicine. The report advises considering personal risk factors, such as medical conditions, living in a care facility, being elderly or pregnant, or being in a medical facility or crowded place, when deciding whether to wear a mask.
Violet Affleck’s advocacy for mask availability and mandates is a call to action for local officials to protect vulnerable populations and ensure that everyone in Los Angeles can participate safely in public life. Her passionate plea underscores the ongoing challenges posed by COVID-19 and the importance of preventive measures in mitigating its impact.
Source: CBS News, TODAY.com, Los Angeles Times
