In a recent interview with Exclaim! for the band's new album The Scholars, Car Seat Headrest's Will Toledo spoke at length about developing long COVID and how living with chronic illness informed the record. Now, the frontman has shared a statement urging fans to wear N95 masks to the band's shows.
"It's been over five years since COVID changed our world," Toledo wrote in a post shared to Instagram yesterday (May 14). "While people with healthy immune systems can more easily fight off the infection now with the aid of vaccines, spread of the virus still has a decimating effect on vulnerable and immunocompromised people. The best way to limit the spread is by wearing an N95 mask — a method proved highly effective in rigorous testing."
He continued, "I don't want a CSH show to be the last experience a fan has before becoming disabled. Please wear an N95 at our shows."
As one might expect, the comments on the post are a minefield. Thankfully, most of the ones that have received the most upvotes are very supportive, but we of course have our fair share of COVID-deniers and those saying it's an "unreasonable request" on the part of Toledo, who also shared a link to a more extensive piece he wrote a year ago on the subject.