Responsible People Wear Masks
Walmart Corporation recently instituted a policy that will mandate facial masks in all of their stores beginning on Monday, July 20. They weren't clear about exceptions or how they will enforce their mandate. I was at Walmart, Sayre, PA for about an hour on Thursday, July 16. Mask compliance was about 75%. I spoke with a manager, Lisa Barnes, and wished her luck for Monday. I asked how they intended to enforce mask compliance. She said that incidents would be reported to managers and they would respond. She didn't elaborate. Walmart should not require their already underpaid workers to be the enforcers.
Stores in the Elmira and Horseheads areas of New York including a Walmart and Sam's Club have mandated masks for months. Customers wear them because it is enforced. There are no exceptions. No mask, no service. Also, breaking with Trump, these Republican governors have mandated masks in their states: Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Kay Ivey of Alabama, and Jim Justice of West Virginia. "Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the current epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, could fine residents up to $100 if they fail to comply with its mask requirement."
It is amazing how divisive a simple mask has become. Experts have concluded that masks reduce virus spread by suppressing aerosols and droplets from people's exhalations. They have also concluded that the pandemic in the U.S. would be brought under control if everyone wore masks where required over a 1 to 2 months period.
The pandemic is affecting everyone -- even those who think it is a hoax. Chuck Wollery, a former game show host, tweeted, "The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it's all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I'm sick of it." His tweet was retweeted by Trump. Soon afterward, one of Woolery's sons tested positive for the virus. Woolery then tweeted, "Covid-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones." He then deactivated his Twitter account.
However, the anti-mask crowd won't be convinced of this. The only way they will wear a mask is if they are forced to wear one with escalating fines and jail time for violations. I don't have a problem with this. It's working in the NY area mentioned above. Otherwise, the only other hope is a vaccine, but that may be many months away. And even then, most of the anti-maskers would resist that too. Again, make this mandatory.
You may argue that this is draconian. But there are many legal mandates that anti-maskers follow with no claims from them that their rights are being violated. Their cars must be insured and inspected. Seatbelts are mandatory. Speed limits are enforced. Drivers must be licensed. DUI is a serious offence. Driving laws must be followed. Why would the simple act of requiring that a mask be worn be draconian? It's not, particularly when the only other choice is to allow an already out-of-control pandemic to get vastly worse and potentially kill millions and seriously affect the health of tens of millions in addition to further devastating an already struggling economy. Mandated rules protect everyone.
The choices are simple:
(1) Accept the deaths of millions of Americans with an additional tens of millions struck with chronic health complications, and another hit to the economy because of shutdowns.
(2) Everyone wear masks. No exceptions. They can wear them voluntarily, or by force of law with fines and jail time if necessary if the mask isn't worn or worn improperly. And when a vaccine is available, vaccination is mandatory with only reviewed medical exceptions.
Rights come with responsibilities. Be responsible because as of July 17, 2020, there are almost 80,000 new infections daily of covid-19 in the United States. Wear a mask and wear it properly.
Stores in the Elmira and Horseheads areas of New York including a Walmart and Sam's Club have mandated masks for months. Customers wear them because it is enforced. There are no exceptions. No mask, no service. Also, breaking with Trump, these Republican governors have mandated masks in their states: Asa Hutchinson of Arkansas, Kay Ivey of Alabama, and Jim Justice of West Virginia. "Miami-Dade County, the most populous county in Florida and the current epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic, could fine residents up to $100 if they fail to comply with its mask requirement."
It is amazing how divisive a simple mask has become. Experts have concluded that masks reduce virus spread by suppressing aerosols and droplets from people's exhalations. They have also concluded that the pandemic in the U.S. would be brought under control if everyone wore masks where required over a 1 to 2 months period.
The pandemic is affecting everyone -- even those who think it is a hoax. Chuck Wollery, a former game show host, tweeted, "The most outrageous lies are the ones about Covid 19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it's all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I'm sick of it." His tweet was retweeted by Trump. Soon afterward, one of Woolery's sons tested positive for the virus. Woolery then tweeted, "Covid-19 is real and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones." He then deactivated his Twitter account.
However, the anti-mask crowd won't be convinced of this. The only way they will wear a mask is if they are forced to wear one with escalating fines and jail time for violations. I don't have a problem with this. It's working in the NY area mentioned above. Otherwise, the only other hope is a vaccine, but that may be many months away. And even then, most of the anti-maskers would resist that too. Again, make this mandatory.
You may argue that this is draconian. But there are many legal mandates that anti-maskers follow with no claims from them that their rights are being violated. Their cars must be insured and inspected. Seatbelts are mandatory. Speed limits are enforced. Drivers must be licensed. DUI is a serious offence. Driving laws must be followed. Why would the simple act of requiring that a mask be worn be draconian? It's not, particularly when the only other choice is to allow an already out-of-control pandemic to get vastly worse and potentially kill millions and seriously affect the health of tens of millions in addition to further devastating an already struggling economy. Mandated rules protect everyone.
The choices are simple:
(1) Accept the deaths of millions of Americans with an additional tens of millions struck with chronic health complications, and another hit to the economy because of shutdowns.
(2) Everyone wear masks. No exceptions. They can wear them voluntarily, or by force of law with fines and jail time if necessary if the mask isn't worn or worn improperly. And when a vaccine is available, vaccination is mandatory with only reviewed medical exceptions.
Rights come with responsibilities. Be responsible because as of July 17, 2020, there are almost 80,000 new infections daily of covid-19 in the United States. Wear a mask and wear it properly.
John L. Ferri
jlferri@epix.net
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