Wear a Mask, Please
Recently, I’ve been surprised by the number of patients who come to our office and aren’t wearing a mask. This won’t work. Studies have shown that we can reduce the risk of transmitting the virus by 50% by wearing a mask. Who would not want to do that? OK, I don’t look good in a mask. My glasses fog and it sounds like I am mumbling more than usual. But I wear a mask.
Public Health
Wearing A Mask Likely Provides 50% Protection Against COVID-19 Transmission, Expert Says
CNN (5/27, Yan, Almasy, Croft) reports, “Americans are at odds over whether it’s necessary to keep taking coronavirus protective measures, but a leading researcher says the data is clear: The path ahead in the [COVID-19] pandemic is being shaped by masks.” Dr. Chris Murray, Director of the Institute for Health Metrics And Evaluation (IMHE) at the University of Washington, told CNN, “We now have really clear evidence that wearing masks works – it’s probably a 50% protection against transmission. … And so, what happens in the next month or two is very much in the hands of how people respond.”
It is distressing that this is becoming a political issue. It should not be. We have simple ways of keeping our families and friends healthy. Wash your hands and wear a mask under circumstances when you can’t socially distance. stay home when your are sick. Get tested if you are sick,
Think of it like washing your hands after you go to the bathroom. I hope that you do that. Why do you? Of course, your mother told you that you should do it. That’s a very good reason, but beyond that, it is to reduce the risk of disease transmission. You don’t want bacteria from your hands infecting someone that you come in contact with. Same thing with wearing a mask, but it’s a virus. You don’t want to transmit it whether or not you have symptoms.
Don’t let wearing a mask become political. It’s a public health issue. Do it for others.
SO, WASH YOUR HANDS AFTER YOU GO TO THE BATHROOM AND WEAR A MASK WHEN YOU CAN’T SOCIALLY DISTANCE.
Don’t even TRY to come into our offices without one. 🙂
Thank you and have a good evening.
