Dear Anti-Maskers

Dear Anti-maskers,

May I ask why you don’t like to wear your mask? Is it because it infringes on your rights as an American? Do you believe that Covid-19 is a conspiracy? Or are you simply just not into the look? At least, when I have talked to people about their opinions on masks, this is what I tend to hear. Many chose to stay anonymous on their views. Not being a fan of masks seems to be a popular opinion in Fruita, Colorado. So let me tell you why I think masks are necessary, so you can maybe catch a glimpse on the other side of the spectrum.

Covid-19, is a novel (or new) coronavirus, a strain of virus that has not been previously identified in humans. Symptoms include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and last but not least, diarrhea. I could go on and on about Covid-19, but I’m sure all of you already know what is, what’s happened, yata, yata, yata. So, of course this pandemic sounds serious right? The answer is yes…especially since 200,000 Americans have died from it according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (CDC).

Many people react differently to Covid-19, and this is because Covid-19 can be asymptomatic. Meaning, it can show symptoms, or it may concern a specific symptom. Some people may only have a runny nose and a headache, whereas the next person has no symptoms at all, yet they both test positive for Covid-19. This is VERY dangerous. You or your friends/family could have Covid and not even realize it, and then pass it on to the next person who could react totally differently than you. “It’s a simple virus,” said an anonymous Fruita Monument High Schooler. Is it simple though when again, 200,000 Americans have died from this?

Now let’s talk about how a mask comes into place. Health experts say the evidence is clear that masks can help prevent the spread of Covid-19 and that the more people wearing masks, the better. At University of California, San Francisco (UC) epidemiologist George Rutherford, MD, and infectious disease specialist Peter Chin-Hong, MD, talked on the CDC’s mask-wearing, and the current science on how masks work. “What you want is 100 percent of people to wear masks, but you’ll settle for 80 percent,” said Rutherford. In one simulation, researchers predicted that 80 percent of the population wearing masks would do more to reduce Covid-19 spread than a strict lockdown. Doing your part to protect people is important. The higher the rates of people wearing masks, the better, and the faster we as a society can beat Covid-19. “I think there’s enough evidence to say that the best benefit is for people who have Covid-19 to protect them from giving Covid-19 to other people, but you’re still going to get a benefit from wearing a mask if you don’t have Covid-19,” said Chin-Hong. Masks may be more effective as a “source control” because they can prevent larger expelled droplets from evaporating into smaller droplets that can travel farther. “You should always wear masks and socially distance,” said Rutherford. “I would be hesitant to try to parse it apart. But, yes, I think mask wearing is more important.” He is right, wearing a mask is more important. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Some more evidence comes from laboratory studies of respiratory droplets and the ability of various masks to block them. An experiment using high-speed video found that droplets ranging from 20 to 500 micrometers were generated when saying a simple phrase, but that nearly all these droplets were blocked when the mouth was covered by a damp washcloth. Another study of people who had influenza or the common cold found that wearing a surgical mask significantly reduced the amount of these respiratory viruses emitted in droplets and aerosols. So where’s the harm in wearing a mask? Please, tell me.

A mask does not prevent you from breathing. If a surgeon can wear it for an eight hour long surgery, you can wear it for an eight hour day at your work as well. Also, if you’re complaining about how it infringes on your rights, please go to Google, and look up what women’s suffrage is. Women were suppressed for years, not being able to vote, own a bank account, or even wear what they want. Talk about infringing on rights, am I right? 

So please, do your part, respect your neighbors and wear a mask. We’re in a dark time, and it’s better for all of us to come together by wearing a mask to protect not only your friends and family, but yourself too.

Sincerely,

Grace King-Wagner

PS, if you were offended, or you found this article pointless and thought it should be thrown into a large pit of fire, please count how many times Covid-19 was said throughout the piece. It might be more fun for you.