“The mask is now an outward symbol of the paranoia many Americans have been conditioned to feel about COVID-19.”

Illustration on the mental health toll of wearing masks  and the COVID-19 pandemic by Linas Garsys/The Washington Times

https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2022/sep/9/masking-now-a-symbol-of-covid-19-pandemics-mental-/