In response to the July 26 Reader Opinion, “We are submitting,” the idea behind wearing masks is to reduce the community spread of COVID-19. According to USA Today, The Centers for Disease Control says that COVID-19 spreads mainly through respiratory droplets when someone who is infected coughs, sneezes or talks, making cloth masks an effective way to lessen the transmission of the coronavirus. My grandchildren have been home with their parents since March 20 and were isolated until July 1. This may contribute to the lack of child infections of COVID-19. Dr. Debra Birx attributes the rise in COVID-19 cases in the South and West to Memorial Day gatherings of “mobs” of people. Our prison population lives in confined spaces with difficulty maintaining social distancing. Some people who have the opinion that COVID-19 is no worse than the flu should listen to the survivors who spent weeks on a ventilator. This is a deadly disease that does not respect state boundaries, the condition of the economy, or anyone’s opinion. The people who refuse to wear a mask could be a potential vector contributing to the community spread of the disease by not wearing a mask. Even the POTUS now recommends wearing a mask. Some people who say they feel for those families who have lost loved ones, are insincere because of their refusal to wear a mask. Newsweek.com reports researchers found that people possessing so-called "Dark Triad" traits — narcissism, psychopathy and Machiavellianism — were less likely to comply with restrictions or engage in preventative measures against the pandemic. People wearing masks are not submitting to a government scare tactic. They are responding to a real worldwide health crisis. I hope those opposed to wearing a mask will reconsider and start wearing a mask.
Steve Wymore
Nisswa
