Sunday, July 19, 2020

Wear a Face Mask


Why is this is difficult? Wear a face mask in public! 

It amazes me that so many people resist such a simple measure which according to the CDC Director could help us get coronavirus under control in weeks.


Trump in a Face Mask, Finally
How many Americans must die before we take a simple preventative measure and show concern for others?

The recent publication from the CDC is pretty clear and has a very interesting case study based upon tracing to help confirm what the experts have been telling us. Face masks save lives. Of course looking at the recent increase in infections we really don't need the experts to tell us to wear masks. States were masks are optional are suffering with high infection and hospitalization rates. 

“We are not defenseless against COVID-19,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting. All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Are face masks safe? There is a lot of misinformation and partially true information on the internet right now, but an article in USA Today titled, Fact Check: Face masks are safe for most, but not kids under 2 lays out the situation. 

Here is the situation--over 1 percent of the U.S. population have been confirmed as infected with coronavirus as of yesterday. Of those infected, nearly 4 percent have died which is 138,782 people who have lost their lives as of yesterday. By comparison, during the 2019-2020 flu season 17 percent of the U.S. population is estimated to have possibly been infected with the flu and of those infected 0.1% (yes, that is one-tenth of a percent) lost their lives. Coronavirus is not the flu! If 17 percent of the American population were to become infected with coronavirus the result could be over 2,200,000 deaths! 

The argument over Constitutional rights just does not hold water in the case of wearing face masks. People have the right not to wear a face mask in public--in some states that will be against the law and there will be consequences, everything has consequences. People do not, however, have the right to possibly infect someone else with a disease. It is our responsibility to take action to protect our fellow citizens.

Wear a face mask. Save a life.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD


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