Wear your mask

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Kay’s Korner

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Let’s talk about masks, friends.

I know that they aren’t fun. They are not an item that one chooses to wear as a fashion statement. They can make your ears sore after wearing them for a while and can be a hassle when doing something that requires a large intake of air, like physical labor, working out, singing or any number of other things.

Masks are a little inconvenient, but it was recommended that we start wearing them months ago, and many people, including myself, ignored that recommendation at first. Chances are, that’s why the mandate requiring them was declared. It may have been different when our county had only a handful of COVID-19 cases, but we ignored health officials’ advice and are paying for it now with the jump in statewide and local cases.

Let’s not make the same mistake again. Let’s wear our masks. It takes so little to reduce the chances of contracting COVID-19. Studies have shown that states and countries with mask mandates in place have seen a reduction in transmission. 

Even if coronavirus particles are small enough to fit between the fibers, a simple cloth mask will still block respiratory droplets from spreading to others. It still helps.

Now that Texas is under a mask mandate, I’ve heard a lot of people complaining about their personal freedom being infringed upon, but here’s the thing — what is actually being taken from you? Everyone has the right to feel safe, and people are allowed to say no to and refuse service to those not following the mandate. Honestly, if you walk into a business without a mask and are refused service because of it, how much trouble is it really to go put one on?

I’ve seen Facebook posts asking why businesses feel the need to enforce the mandate when in many places, the police aren’t doing so and let me just say — that is exactly why. Someone needs to enforce it, and businesses reserve the right to refuse service for any non-discriminatory reason, and it is not discrimination to be refused service for not wearing a mask. This is based purely on science and is for the greater good of everyone, even those who refuse to follow the mandate.

So go ahead and exercise your right to be stubborn if you’d like. 

But don’t go after those who want only to stay healthy and do the right thing for others. Those who are more concerned with their freedom to not wear a piece of cloth than the people who have gotten sick and died because of a potentially preventable virus are the problem.

Please think of others. Nobody wants to get sick, especially those with high-risk individuals in their households. 

Just wear a mask.

 

Kaylee Rush is a staff writer for The Snyder News. Comments on this article can be made at lifestyles@thesnydernews.com