I have tried to understand and I can’t.
Dear Friends,
I am really struggling with folks who do not wear masks in public. I have tried to understand the reasons why someone would not want to wear a mask and I can’t.
The primary argument, as far as I can tell, is wearing a mask should be my choice. No one, especially the government, should be able to tell me what to do. Okay, I think. Then my next question is: Why doesn’t a person CHOOSE to wear a mask?
In other words, regardless of whether or not there is a mandate: Why not wear a mask?
Our community expects surgical teams to wear masks during operations. In fact, I suspect many of us would not seek out medical help from people who did not wear masks or wash their hands or use universal precautions.
Just like we would not want to eat at a restaurant which received a poor grade from the Health Department. Who wants to eat food prepared by employees who don’t wash their hands after using the bathroom, or who don’t sanitize their dishes, or who leave raw food out on the counters? I can’t think of anyone who believes that is a good idea.
Whether something is recommended or required, our community has certain agreements we expect each other to follow. For example, we all agree to stop our car at a red light. Just as we all agree to wait our turn in line at the grocery store.
Our communities are based on mutual cooperation and basic kindness. Our laws, codes and mandates are written not only to protect us but to foster an environment where folks can thrive.
I realize there are exceptions to the rule. That there are or have been laws, codes and mandates which need to change or be erased. For example, once upon a time it was legal to own a slave in this country. Clearly there is a history of corrupt or bigoted policies and rules which benefit a few and hurt many.
And a mask mandate is not one of these exceptions. Wearing a mask is scientifically proven to prevent the spread of air borne diseases such as the coronavirus. So is frequent hand washing and social distancing.
Wearing a mask is to protect other people.
If someone who does not wear a mask only hurts themselves, then I would say: Go for it. Personal choice. I also would ask this same person not take up a limited bed at the hospital: to save the medical care for the people who did wear a mask.
We wear masks because we don’t know if we have the coronavirus. You might not know because:
- It is too early in the disease stage to detect symptoms. (Viral load is highest the 2-3 days proceeding the onset of symptoms.)
- You are asymptomatic.
In one case, a Chinese man, who was wearing a mask, was on a plane. He later tested positive for COVID-19. NONE of the passengers who sat around him contracted the virus. This Chinese man prevented 25 people from getting sick because he wore a mask.
In another case study, two positive COVID-19 hair stylists from Missouri did NOT infect any of the 140 clients with whom they were in close contact. Why? Because both hairstylists wore masks while they worked. (Check out this link for the details.)
Another reason we know that masks are effective in preventing the spread of COVID-19 is because in communities where the majority of the people wear masks, the number of positive cases decreases dramatically.
Because of all the facts I mentioned, as well as many more scientific studies I did not, I really do not understand the reason some people choose not to wear masks.
The personal choice not to wear a mask is one of the reasons that:
- My father-in-law and 90% of the residents who live in his nursing home were infected. How do I know this? Because none of the residents have been allowed to leave the building since March of this year. None. The only way the coronavirus entered that building was via a staff member: a staff member who interacts in a community with people who don’t wear masks.
- Healthcare workers, particularly those who work with COVID patients, are completely and utterly exhausted. Healthcare workers who have to take personal time off if they get sick, who are struggling with depression and anxiety from seeing too many people die, and who often are separated from their loved ones for fear of getting them sick. And here is the real clincher, these same healthcare workers don’t make a distinction in whom they treat. They will take care of people who wore a mask as well as people who did not.
- United States is the country with the most reported COVID-19 deaths. [Source] If everyone chose to wear a mask from the onset of this virus, then fewer people would have died.
Message from Jamie, CNA at Johnson City Medical Center
One more thing: Wearing a mask to protect people means wearing a mask that covers your mouth AND nose and does not gape on your face.
In other words, people who:
- leave their nose uncovered
- take off their mask to talk on their phone
- have a space between their skin and their mask
are not preventing the spread of the virus.
Masks are only effective if they are used correctly. To learn more about how to wear a mask and what type of masks are best, go to the CDC web site.
I assume many of you who read this newsletter wear masks in public and wear them correctly. I thank you for your kindness and consideration: you are truly a community servant. I do ask that you pass this information along to people who currently choose not to wear masks. I don’t know if this information will change their mind but I sure hope it does.
Stay well and much love —Kim, Shakti in the Mountains