With face masks a must, it is time for Fresno Councilman Garry Bredefeld to put one on
Cloth masks can help significantly reduce the spread of the coronavirus. That’s why Gov. Gavin Newsom was right on Thursday to order the mandatory wearing of masks throughout the state, superseding local authority.
Multiple scientific studies show that, until there’s a vaccine, cloth masks will provide the best defense against the unchecked spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. That’s why all Californians should gladly do their part and wear masks in public places.
Among the leading opponents in Fresno to mask wearing has been City Councilman Garry Bredefeld. He has characterized it as an infringement of personal freedom and going beyond federal guidelines. He vehemently opposed a council rule that members wear masks in City Hall.
But those arguments ring hollow to anyone who has a loved one who is over age 65 or struggling with health issues like asthma or diabetes, which afflict many in the Valley. Such people are at high risk of becoming infected.
Some Bee readers have commented recently in letters to the editor that it is time for Bredefeld to be a good role model and put his personal politics aside. We completely agree. Mr. Bredefeld, stop the complaining, end the grandstanding and put on a mask.
Better role modeling is not limited just to Bredefeld. County Supervisors Buddy Mendes and Steve Brandau recently undercut their own interim public health officer, Dr. Rais Vohra. He had issued a mask-wearing order on the county’s website that initially read “All residents shall use cloth masks …” Mendes and Brandau protested, and within an hour of posting, the wording had been changed to “All residents should use cloth masks …”
Brandau ostensibly wanted the change to not harm local small businesses whose customers might be put off if they had to put on a mask to enter. Of course, operating a shop where COVID-19 germs are present is not a great business model, either.
The time for “should” is over. The pandemic is real. So are the 61 deaths in Fresno County recorded through Wednesday.
It is a no-brainer
“This protective measure alone significantly reduced the number of infections, that is, by over 78,000 in Italy from April 6 to May 9 and over 66,000 in New York City from April 17 to May 9,” according to a recent study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science. “Other mitigation measures, such as social distancing implemented in the United States, are insufficient by themselves in protecting the public. We conclude that wearing of face masks in public corresponds to the most effective means to prevent interhuman transmission, and this inexpensive practice, in conjunction with simultaneous social distancing, quarantine, and contact tracing, represents the most likely fighting opportunity to stop the COVID-19 pandemic.”
As the state progresses through the phases of reopening, and as more people start coming into contact with one another, mandatory masks will play a key role. Dr. Lisa Barcellos, a UC Berkeley epidemiologist, called mandatory masks a “no brainer.”
“Wearing a mask should absolutely be mandatory in any public place. Period. No mask, no entry,” Barcellos said. “If outdoors, each individual needs to wear a mask if they are in close proximity to others and physical distancing is still critical. Each person should have a mask with them at all times when exercising or outdoors for other reasons.”
On Wednesday, Dr. Lee Snook — incoming president of the California Medical Association — called on the state to issue the statewide mask order.
“California would benefit from an order from our state health officer that reflects CDC guidelines: Face coverings should be worn when people are out in public and around other people,” Snook said in a statement provided to The Sacramento Bee Editorial Board.
Threats to health officers
Sadly, some county health officials have faced personal attacks and bullying from anti-mask activists who seem to oppose any government action designed to protect public health.
Dr. Nichole Quick, the chief health officer of Orange County, resigned on June 8 after her order for county residents to wear masks resulted in threats and personal attacks. After she resigned, the Orange County Board of Supervisors bowed to public pressure and rescinded the mask rule, according to a story by CalMatters, which said Quick was “the third high-level Orange County health official to do so during the pandemic.”
Orange County’s decision to cave to political concerns instead of following science shows why Newsom could no longer leave such critical life-or-death decisions up to local officials. There’s no point in having a governor if every county gets to decide for itself whether to follow truth and science on matters of grave concern. This deadly pandemic has killed more than 5,200 Californians and nearly 120,000 Americans.
Masks won’t completely halt the spread of the virus, but they could potentially save your life or the life of someone you love. A mask doesn’t have to be expensive or complicated to be effective. Even a mask fashioned out of a T-shirt, a bandana or a sock can make a big difference (and there are plenty of online tutorials for how to make them). The basic point is to cover one’s nose and mouth, and to maintain a 6-foot distance from others when interacting with people outside of your household.
Scientists say the hardest days of the COVID-19 pandemic lie ahead of us. History has often asked Americans to make great sacrifices, and some have even given their lives in defense of the common good.
Wearing a simple cloth mask to save lives seems pretty easy in comparison.
