The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic saw face mask requirements in several places. This was posted on Reddit—Showerthoughts on April 21, 2020:
   
“Motorcyclists wearing face masks but no helmet is the ultimate irony.”
 
Several people in the comments pointed out that this is common in Africa, India and South-East Asia.
 
The thought has been shared by many others. “Thousands die due to road accidents. But no one has died due to corona virus in India so far. Therefore, it’s funny to see people driving their motorcycles wearing face masks but no helmets” was posted on Twitter by Kulpreet Yadav on March 8, 2020. “Thing that don’t make sense in my head, Two parents learning their child to ride a bike with no bicycle helmet, But the two parents where wearing face masks to prevent catching a disease” was posted on Twitter by John Atherton later on March 8, 2020.
 
   
Wikipedia: 2019-20 coronavirus outbreak
The 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The outbreak was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei, China, in December 2019, and was recognised as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020.
           
Twitter
Kulpreet Yadav
@Kulpreetyadav
Thousands die due to road accidents. But no one has died due to corona virus in India so far. Therefore, it’s funny to see people driving their motorcycles wearing face masks but no helmets.
#coronovirusindia #Coronavid19
7:36 AM · Mar 8, 2020 from India·Twitter for Android
   
Twitter
John Atherton
@JohnJohnstath
Thing that don’t make sense in my head,
Two parents learning their child to ride a bike with no bicycle helmet,
But the two parents where wearing face masks to prevent catching a disease
6:25 PM · Mar 8, 2020 from Markham, Ontario·Twitter for Android
   
Twitter
Dave Fox
@Globejotter
One thing that’s cracking me up about the #coronavirus in #Vietnam: I’m seeing people on motorbikes wearing face masks but no helmets. I ride a motorbike in the crazy traffic here every day and I worry much more about head injuries than I do about #Covid19.
7:02 AM · Mar 9, 2020·Twitter Web App
   
Twitter
Abhik Sengupta
@abhiksengupta
Just saw a few bikers on the road wearing face masks but no helmet. matlab kyu!?
9:45 AM · Mar 19, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Pubsie
@PuvenTirren
Guys in my taman be riding around with face masks on but no helmet…
Priorities ahh….
4:53 AM · Mar 29, 2020 from Pulai, Johor·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Alex Funk
@CWCB_AlexFunk
Ok so on my ride today I counted maybe three cyclists wearing face masks BUT NO HELMET #priorities #bikedistancing
4:10 PM · Apr 5, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Wes Jackson
@wayzgame
Just saw a woman and man riding a motorcycle together with face masks on, but no helmets.
GIF
6:42 PM · Apr 5, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Imogen
@imogen__west
I keep seeing cyclists wearing face masks but no helmet? Scared of catching the ‘rona but not about spilling their brains half way across the road. Logic
8:24 PM · Apr 7, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
Seven44
@TivarSeivwright
So i saw a bike man with a face masks on but no helmet
GIF
7:33 AM · Apr 8, 2020 from Jamaica·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Adam Brown
@ab_FinTech
Yesterday’s observation is the number of casual cyclists undertaking their allotted exercise time wearing face masks but no helmet. I guess they’ve weighed it up and favour major head trauma 🤷🏻‍♂️
2:45 AM · Apr 10, 2020 from Saint Clements, Bailiwick of Jersey·Twitter for iPhone
 
Twitter
Larry Interesting
@MochaRacc
Motorcyclists with face masks but no helmets. You’re the real ones. Keep on being dumb fucks.
4:01 PM · Apr 12, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
   
Twitter
ben markowitz
@84semifinalist
The number of people riding bikes wearing face masks but no helmet is perplexing
9:18 PM · Apr 15, 2020·Twitter for iPhone
 
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Craig Chad
@Craig_Chadd
So many stupid parents around. I’ve seen 6 kids out with parents who are wearing face masks but no helmet.
I know what your most likely to die from during that bike ride. #StupidPeople #Covid_19
3:39 PM · Apr 17, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Michael
@FloridaManSiam
More people die daily on the roads of Thailand than the last 4 months if #COVID19 I see people speeding on motorcycles wearing face masks but no helmet everywhere.
10:48 AM · Apr 18, 2020 from Thanon Nakhon Chai Si, Thailand·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Laura Greenwood
@Ilsa76
Really confused at the amount of cyclists I see with face masks on but no helmet
11:28 AM · Apr 18, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
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Jess
@jesstategibson
saw some cyclists today wearing face masks but no helmets so i want to take this moment to inform you all that head trauma can also kill you
8:48 PM · Apr 18, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Twitter
Dr. Raghuraj Hegde
@raghurajs_hegde
What’s with this trend of facemasks but no helmets trend in this lockdown. Operated on another trauma case yesterday. Smashed-face guy was wearing a perfectly usable mask but no helmet- was speeding on empty streets and had an accident. 2nd case in two weeks. #COVIDIOTS
Quote Tweet
Dr. Raghuraj Hegde
@raghurajs_hegde
· Apr 20
Replying to @PalasseryRasmi @hmgcoa2 and 42 others
6 word story challenge for #COVID19 #medtwitter “So many masks, not enough helmets” Passing to 6 others @drshashikiran @nishanth_sada @deepu_cc @Haddi_Ka_Doctor @Prateek_eye @SouvikEye
10:33 AM · Apr 20, 2020·Twitter for Android
 
Reddit—Showerthoughts
Posted by u/barneyskywalker April 21, 2020
Motorcyclists wearing face masks but no helmet is the ultimate irony.
Saw one yesterday, couldn’t believe my eyes.
COMMENTS
cringymemes11
Do you live in Africa as well?
Because where I am, they do that.
All of them
Smooth_Detective
Welcome to India.
dalischa
Welcome to South-East Asia. Especially at night when the police stopped working