Yes, we are all required to wear masks in most parts of the country if we are indoors or in crowded, outdoor locations. The CDC recommendations state “cloth face coverings should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the mask without assistance”. If you are reading this and understand the content, you are probably able to wear a mask. Dr. Albert Rizzo, chief medical officer of the American Lung Association states “the best way to avoid getting COVID-19 is to stay home and stay away from sick people, especially if you feel that you are not going to be able to wear a mask or facial covering of some sort”.
Dr. Rizzo went on to say that the reason many people have trouble with a mask is that they haven’t tried the right style of mask, how tight it fits, the material it is made of, etc. Sometimes it really is just that people with lung disease don’t like to have anything covering their faces. His recommendation is to wear a loose-fitting mask that covers the nose and mouth and isn’t going to fall off but isn’t so tight around the ears and neck to make it uncomfortable.
Bottom line, masks are here to stay, there is no crystal ball however the experts are saying to treat mask wearing as a way of life. If you put on your shoes when you leave the house, put on your mask as well. Someday there may be a vaccine that will assist in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus but until then it is up to you, me and the world to do everything within our power to prevent the spread of infection. Please wear your mask, stay well, stay safe and stay tuned.