When Premier Wen Jiabao was inspecting the rubble of a classroom building at Beichuan Middle School, in order to prevent the spread of disease, a young officer quickly stepped forward and handed the premier a thick white mask, asking him to wear it. Unexpectedly, Premier Wen waved his hand in front of all the people present and refused to wear it.
Afterwards, someone who knew the situation explained that Premier Wen's insistence on not wearing a mask was absolutely not due to his lack of knowledge about basic epidemic prevention. He did this possibly to indicate to the outside world that Beichuan and the entire earthquake-stricken area of Sichuan were safe, with no outbreaks of epidemics after the disaster. This statement probably only got it half right and failed to express the deep feelings that national leaders like the premier have for the disaster victims.
Considering from the perspective of disadvantages, this simple yet striking action also reflects many issues. For example, the privileges of cadres and their exemplary role. In such circumstances, as long as conditions permit, everyone should wear a mask, regardless of whether an epidemic has occurred or not. The awareness of epidemic prevention is essential. It is not advisable to elaborate on the disadvantages; please take a moment to think about it.