God said to Solomon, “When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people, if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” –  2 Chronicles 7:13–14

Former President Trump-appointed federal Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle who last week tossed in the bin the mask mandate in public transportation, led to major transport systems including some mid-air announcements by pilots for people to unmask. The ruling put at risk not only health-compromised persons in the US but also those around the world. This is because of the global belief in hamburgers, pizza, and Coca-Cola, the ruling that caused jubilation and sighs of relief among US passengers could have led to similar abandonment, even among the unvaccinated populations around the world, putting at risk hordes of people, especially under-five children, who do not yet have a vaccine for the age group.

It was with relief therefore that the US  Center for Disease and Preventions (CDC) ruled that the mandate that was given by the Biden Administration was “necessary” to protect the public from the spread of the coronavirus. All the hamburger-loving, pizza-loving, and Coca-Cola-loving peoples of the world utter a big sigh of relief! These are persons who hold as dear and cherished the American lifestyle as global street brand extraordinaire. The Kathryn Kimball Mizelle ruling was a death sentence to the global citizens

Since 2020, the whole world has come up close and personal with the ravages of COVID-19, and according to the Worldometer on coronavirus, as of April 21, 2022, 6,232, 766, with 507,116,631 confirmed cases in 226 countries and territories, with Malawi registered as 85,978 cases as 2,632 deaths.

Granted the Malawi figures are minuscule when compared to the US (82,488,517 cases, 1,017,093 deaths) or South Africa’s (3,746,424 cases, 100,211 deaths), however,  Malawians felt the heavy blow as COVID-19 claimed the lives of loved ones. Off the top of my head, I recall friends and relatives, and national icons that succumbed to COVID-19 between 2020 to 2021. These include my long-time professional friend Felix Mponda, my Aunt Margaret Mbumba Banda, national celebrated songbird Maria Chidzanja-Nkhoma, cousin Francis Mbilizi, cousin Thoko Mbilizi Mwapasa, Reverend Patrick Semphere, Mwana wa Kwithu Wambali Mkandawire, in-law Taona Mkandawire, former Chief Justice Lovemore Munlo, his wife, former Ambassador Munlo, and another Munlo brother, and a host of other Malawians.

COVID-19 does not play, it is not a joke, respecter of persons, it is not political, and no one can afford to err otherwise but to be cautious. The judge’s decision is a huge gamble on people’s health but put in the breaths of unsuspected COVID-19- unvaccinated and/or infected strangers, relatives, and friends.

The last three years since the outbreak of the pandemic have taught us that the coronavirus (dubbed COVID-19) is scared of the hygiene regimen of washing hands with soap and warm or hot water, hand sanitizers, and we have protected ourselves and other people by wearing masks. I can verify that since the pandemic, and my mask-wearing days (March 2020), I have not suffered from the common cold or flu. These two are passed from one sufferer to the next, especially in public places like buses, trains, shops; any place where people are breathing, or worse sneezing. Coughing into other people’s airspaces leads to the spread of the cold or flu viruses. This is the same way the COVID-19 pandemic spreads.

On top of religiously wearing my mask, I received two initial vaccines and have received two booster vaccines. Thank you, Judge Kathryn Kimball Mizelle, but I choose to keep my mask firmly planted over my nose and mouth. This is vital for global health, especially since the virus continues to mutate, and the number of cases in China (the original place where COVID-19 case was first detected) is rising; the whole world needs to continue to be on high alert.

Sure, it is a welcomed development that the travel bans between the nations are being cautiously lifted, however, it would be folly to mess up our global village through the reckless abandon of exercising one’s freedom by attending events in closed, public arenas (restaurants, theatres, shopping centers, etc., without wearing masks. This is especially because not everybody around is vaccinated, or somebody in the room, could be infected with the virus, but not showing signs of it, and inadvertently infected those that are not wearing a mask.

Now is not the time to lift the mask mandate, now is not the time to take off our mask, now is not the time to set aside laws and policies that safeguard public health. Now is the time to continue protecting your health and the health of your loved ones by doing the simple thing: wear a face mask when out in public places!