Violet Affleck urges masks, long COVID awareness at United Nations event

Violet Affleck, the 19-year-old daughter of Jennifer Garner and Ben Affleck, delivered a public address at the United Nations in New York on Tuesday, speaking at Healthy Indoor Air: A Global Call to Action. The UN event framed the discussion around masks and other preventative devices as tools to curb the spread of COVID-19 and protect vulnerable populations, more than five years after the pandemic began to reshape daily life.

'It is neglect of the highest order to look children in the eyes and say, We knew how to protect you, and we didn’t do it,' Violet told attendees. The remarks come as she framed indoor-air policies as a matter of public responsibility rather than personal preference.

Violet said the current generation was showing an alarming tendency to return to business as usual, arguing that adults have downplayed or concealed the ongoing risk of airborne transmission and the threat of long COVID. 'For adults, the relentless beat of back to normal, ignoring, downplaying, and concealing both the prevalence of airborne transmission and the threat of Long COVID manifested in a series of choices,' she told the gathering. She added that 'our present is being stolen right in front of our eyes,' and that young people have 'lacked both real choice in the matter and information about what was being chosen for us.'

The event, held in New York City, is part of international efforts to improve indoor air quality and reduce exposure to airborne diseases in schools, workplaces, and public spaces. Advocates say robust indoor-air standards, including mask use in crowded settings, can help limit transmission and reduce the incidence of prolonged illness such as long COVID among children.

Health officials say the issue of indoor air is gaining traction as countries weigh how best to protect public health in future respiratory disease outbreaks. The UN platform gave Violet a global stage to present her case for precautionary measures, citing lessons learned during the pandemic and the ongoing needs of young people who have faced disrupted education and health challenges.