With the coronavirus and COVID-19, our traditional method of getting large groups of people together and having them touch their faces isn't ideal... However, we've noticed that while wearing face masks in public can help slow the spread, it's not common enough, and people feel uncomfortable wearing them and seeing others wear them. The pandemic has also emphasized existing stereotypes and created others resulting in avoidance, discrimination, or violence towards people of Asian descent, people who have traveled, emergency responders or healthcare professionals, and those who have recovered from COVID-19.
This special edition of the No Evil Project aims to continue the spirit of the project, and let people participate easily on their own. For Breathe No Evil, everyone takes a selfie sharing the same simple good deed of wearing a face covering to protect others in their community. They also pick three labels to show that the pandemic affects everyone in some way, and that we can all come together help slow the spread despite our differences. Their additional good deed can be anything they've done in their life, or something specific to what they're doing during the pandemic.
Participation gives people who may be feeling helpless or isolated right now a voice to tell their story as well as an outlet to be creative if they wish, and to be part of something bigger in the community. Seeing all of these individuals participating in the same creative exercise and wearing face masks shows how the community coming together to support and protect each other, while encouraging and normalizing public health guidelines leading to a faster recovery from COVID-19.