Mask Up!
To mask or not to mask? That is a debate that should never be a debate.
The CDC recommends that everyone older than the age of 2 wear masks because they help reduce the spread of respiratory droplets into the air when a person coughs, sneezes, or talks, and masks reduce inhalation of these droplets by the wearer. Despite these recommendations and scientific evidence that demonstrates masks’ effectiveness, many believe that it doesn’t alter transmission of COVID-19. However, there continues to be overwhelming data that demonstrates that masking does indeed reduce transmission of COVID-19, and a recent study out of Kansas adds to this data.
The governor of Kansas issued an executive order requiring wearing masks in public spaces at the beginning of July. With that order, each county could decide whether to opt in or opt out. 24 counties decided to uphold the mask mandate, whereas 81 opted out. After the mandate was placed, the 24 counties with the mandate saw a decrease of new daily cases as compared to those 81 who opted out. This demonstrated that masks do work in decreasing the transmission of virus. We can decrease the amount of transmission of the COVID-19 through wearing masks, maintaining physical distance, staying at home when ill, staying at home and only going out for essential activities, avoiding contact with people who are not in your COVID family (small group of people, <5, who only see and interact with one another), and practicing good hygiene.
If we have a COVID-19 carrier and a healthy person both wearing a mask, there is a low risk of the healthy person getting infected, and it’s even better if you are 6 feet apart and spent less than 20 minutes together. If both of people take off their mask, the risk of getting infected is much higher, even with being 6 feet apart.
Please wear a mask and social distance to protect yourself and others!
