Here’s why people wear surgical masks in Vancouver

You must have seen it by now.

It is just out of the ordinary enough to be memorable.

Perhaps it was someone walking down the city streets, or sitting across from you on the bus. Someone sporting a surgical mask that covers their mouth and nose.

A post shared by Rafael (@fayox2) on Mar 23, 2017 at 9:15pm PDT

“Has there been some sort of outbreak I’m unaware of?” you might ask. “Should I be on the lookout for zombies?”

Fear not, dear commuter, there is nothing to be afraid of. You’re safer, if anything, because of those masks.

Whenever I see people wearing one of those surgical masks, I wonder if they know something I don’t.😷

— Hansel Castro (@Hallucina2) March 15, 2017

In Japan, it has become a polite practice to wear a surgical mask while sick in an effort to prevent others from catching your cold.

Others wear them during the winter months to prevent themselves catching someone else’s sickness, and some even wear them as fashion statements, or simply to keep their faces warm.

I need surgical masks to become a worldwide fashion trend so i can hide me face in public

— Kacy H (@kacyhynd) March 16, 2017

A fashionable surgical mask has even become part of a SnapChat filter that can be used to give the SnapChatter an idea of how they would appear sporting the look.

I think all surgical masks should look like this! #earsincluded #snäpchat #snapchat #filter #tehe #smile #couldntresist #selfie #selflove #documentyourdays #medicine #surgicalmask #physicianassistant #wildthing #junglefever

A post shared by bmogirmann 🌻 (@bmogirmann) on Mar 16, 2017 at 7:37pm PDT

Where can I get those cool animal’s-muzzle-theme surgical masks? I’m confident they’re app filters but I haven’t confirmed.

— Your Mom (@RelentlessDog) March 27, 2017

While the practice/protection/fashion may not have caught on quite as quickly here in Vancouver, our beautifully diverse city is home to many people from different countries and cultures, and so it’s not uncommon to see a mask being worn here and there.

Some young people are even wearing the masks to prevent unwanted social interactions, much the same way some would use headphones and sunglasses (on those rare sunny days where they don’t make you look suspicious).

A post shared by despair.exe (@miilkyprincess) on Feb 24, 2017 at 9:17pm PST

So the next time you see someone sporting a surgeons mask, don’t get confused and think they might be a forgetful doctor, or that there’s anything poisonous in the air; it is simply as a common courtesy to you and those around you.