I haven’t read anything about it in any of the 12 medical journals to which I now subscribe, but apparently, based upon my observations regarding usage, there must be evidence that holding a face mask in your hand or wearing on your elbow provides just as much, if not more, protection from COVID-19, for you and others, as wearing it on your face does.

On my daily trek, I saw a very pregnant, unmasked woman walking in the park. I was tempted to approach her and ask if she had a cigarette I could bum, but decided that she wouldn’t appreciate the subtlety of my request.

Walking down the sidewalk, I saw approaching me a group of five, somewhat boisterous, unmasked men (not a Lone Ranger among them) taking up the entire sidewalk and then some. Any indecision I may have had as to my next move was quickly eliminated when I saw and heard one of them loudly cough into his hand. As I quickly veered left and began crossing the street, one of them yelled out something that may have been an affront to my manhood, but I’m not sure, as I was too busy thinking about quiche recipes.