Alaskans need to wear masks if we don’t want another shutdown.
Gov. Mike Dunleavy did a disservice to the state by not requiring masks at the beginning of the pandemic, and again in his recent emergency declaration. He said it’s not his job to tell us how to live our lives. Actually, in a public health emergency, I think it is his job to tell us what to do when thousands of lives are at stake. He needs to be a leader, not a follower of the “freedom, personal rights” bandwagon. Even Texas has a mask mandate!
He warned that if we didn’t follow his requests, he’d be forced to take further action. Do we really want another lockdown? Businesses can still function if everyone wears a mask. Social distancing is extremely important, but masks are even more essential to stopping the spread of the coronavirus. It’s just a piece of cloth, people! It’s not a symbol; it’s a barrier to the virus so that your family, friends and neighbors don’t get sick, don’t die, and don’t overwhelm the health care system. Why do you think health care workers wear masks? Masks prevent transmission of disease.
We can worry about our personal freedoms some other time. Right now, we need to protect the population of Alaska. Everyone needs to wear masks in all buildings and in all public spaces if we are going to stop the spread.
— Julia Plotnik, RN
Palmer
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