To the editor:
I went to Florida a few days ago and I was constantly reminded by various highway electronic signs, going and coming, to socially distance and wear masks. After a while I got offended by these messages because never once was I reminded to do self-assessment per (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) guidelines and stay home if feeling ill.
Let me explain.
My personal bias is not to wear mask and to do self-assessments and stay home if I am questioning how I feel that day. I feel that by staying home when feeling ill is a more effective means to protect others than wearing a mask and going out. I do self-assessment before going out and practice social distancing and keep my hands away from my face while out and wash my hands frequently. Do I sanitize the inside of my car after going out? No, but I wouldn’t stop someone who did.
Actually, I feel more confident around people not wearing masks than with people who do. I always am wondering if that person wearing the mask is so confident in the mask, that they go out with symptoms.
A second problem I have with mask wearers is how do they handle masks. Do they wear the same mask when going to various venues, i.e. grocery, clothing store, etc. on the same day without decontaminating the mask? In an infectious environment a person should never go from one space to another without a clean mask.
Logically, if a mask can stop COVID-19 from passing through, then any virus it stops stays in the mask. The mask is now the problem which I believe most people don’t see. I wonder if improper use of the mask could be inhibiting our attempts to control the COVID-19. I feel most people do not know how to properly use, handle and store a mask. I think the mask may be helping to spread the virus. I believe most people wear the same mask everywhere and never clean it. They contaminate their new clean mask by placing it in the same dirty area, i.e. purse, car glove box, etc. that they kept the old contaminated mask in. They are also probably infecting themselves by putting the contaminated mask on backwards by mistake. This is especially true for any cloth masks or single-use masks. There are so many mistakes here. Are they sanitizing their hands before putting on the mask or taking the mask off? Remember this mask may be harboring the “virus” either from the area it passed through or from the person wearing it.
I do believe masks and other special protocols can prevent viruses from spreading in hospitals and like facilities. This is where the mask makes the most sense. These people are professional and are trained in correct protocols.
What about asymptomatic people. It is known for cold and flu viruses that asymptomatic people do not shed a virus like the people who have symptoms. (The World Health Organization) has no data that suggests for COVID-19 it is any different. The asymptomatic are not sneezing and spreading droplets in the air. For me, I believe unless you are hugging, eating after or touching in a personal way an asymptomatic person, your chances of getting this virus or any flu virus from that person is nil.
If I was a “compromised” person and had to go out. First, after doing a CDC self-assessment, I would probably use a single-use mask, have a box of them with me, change masks frequently, maintain social distance and wash my hands frequently.
Finally, I’m not going to tell people not to wear a mask but just don’t wear it to protect me.
Eric Faulker
Indianapolis
