Contradiction and Double Binds in COVID-19 Face Covering Recommendations

doi:10.28933/irjhe-2020-09-1205

Abstract

The global coronavirus pandemic incited swift public health recommendations and education in the United States and throughout the world to reduce the spread of the virus. In the U.S., the White House Coronavirus Task Force, the “Slow the Spread” campaign in 15 and 30-day increments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other public health organizations and representatives weighed in on the role of face coverings to counter COVID-19 threats to public health. Face coverings became a contested public health recommendation. This article rhetorically analyzes contradiction in COVID-19 face covering recommendations and the ensuant double-binds. Analysis of press conferences, national public health websites, and the “Slow the Spread” campaign reveals contradictions in individual risk-averse public health recommendations, specifically face coverings. Contradictions were categorized into: uncover-cover, risky-risk averse, voluntary-recommended-required, and politically right-left. Implications of contradictory messages create double binds for the public seeking to adhere to public health recommendations for personal and public safety. Double binding public health messages undermine public health goals because double binds often result in maladaptive, inappropriate responses. Conclusions assert that to be a responsible citizen of personal and public health in a viral pandemic is a contested and contradictory accomplishment.

Highlights

The global coronavirus pandemic incited swift public health rec- *Correspondence to Author: ommendations and education in the United States and through- R
From meta-studies examining gain and loss- Methodology frame messages [1] to the use of guilt to change For this study, we employed rhetorical analysis attitudes and intentions, [2] persuading people to to face covering messages by the U.S White cease risky health behaviors or adopt new House Coronavirus Task Force, the “Slow the health behaviors is challenging for those in pub- Spread” campaign in 15 [9] and 30-day [10] increlic health, medicine, and the social sciences en- ments, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and other public health officials gaged in this work
Of interest to scholars is how 2) the social construction of risky-risk averse atthe face covering recommendations changed tributions with face covering behaviors by public and in what ways did contradictions emerge that health figures and organizations, 3) whether or created double binds for the public participating not the face covering recommendation is framed in risk reduction

Summary

Introduction

The global coronavirus pandemic incited swift public health rec- *Correspondence to Author: ommendations and education in the United States and through- R. From meta-studies examining gain and loss- Methodology frame messages [1] to the use of guilt to change For this study, we employed rhetorical analysis attitudes and intentions, [2] persuading people to to face covering messages by the U.S White cease risky health behaviors or adopt new House Coronavirus Task Force, the “Slow the health behaviors is challenging for those in pub- Spread” campaign in 15 [9] and 30-day [10] increlic health, medicine, and the social sciences en- ments, the CDC, and other public health officials gaged in this work.

Results

Conclusion