King County just made masks mandatory. In COVID crisis, Pierce County should do same
If William Shakespeare were to write “Hamlet” today, the famous soliloquy might read like this:
“To mask or not to mask, that is the question: Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer the slings and arrows of coronavirus snot, or to take arms against a sea of troubles and cover your countenance, or at least thy mouth and nose.”
Ah, but you don’t need a dusty old bard telling you what common sense should: Wear a mask if you’re out in public.
At least if you want to protect yourself and others from a disease that has so far stricken a confirmed 1730 Pierce County residents and killed 63.
Pierce County would be wise to follow Seattle and King County’s new directive, which says people should cover their noses and mouths in indoor public settings and outdoors when unable to maintain 6 feet of distance.
The unenforceable order goes into effect on Monday (May 18) and exempts children, people with disabilities and deaf or hard-of-hearing individuals.
So what’s the point of a rule if there’s no consequence for breaking it? Principled policy is the short answer. A directive provides uniform guidelines, shapes norms and increases public safety.
In King County, if you don’t wear a mask, you’re a rule breaker. In Pierce County, if you don’t wear a mask, you’re exercising your options. Guess where compliance is going to be higher?
When we asked Pierce County Executive Bruce Dammeier if he thought face coverings should be mandatory, he responded with a solid “No,” adding, “A one-size fits all policy doesn’t make sense.” Dammeier, however, does have two masks, “a professional one and a Seahawk mask.”
Way to lead by example, if not words, while representing the 12s, Mr. Executive.
Dammeier also pointed out that a directive would have to be made by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department. So far TPCHD only recommends them, although spokesperson Steve Metcalf says they’re “having discussions now about what our policy recommendations for the homemade cloth face coverings would look like.”
Studies bear out that masks are most effective if everyone wears one. We require shoes and shirts in most businesses, so why not masks for as long as norms of public hygiene prescribe them?
COVID-19 is an airborne disease carried by droplets; it’s why the U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends masks to mitigate its spread, combined, of course, with other preventative measures like handwashing and social distancing.
According to a new CDC study, if 80 percent of Americans wore face coverings, coronavirus infections would take a nosedive.
No mask offers 100-percent protection. Even a professional version like the N95 respirator only filters out about 95 percent of airborne particles. But any protection is better than none.
Fabric masks that incorporate non-woven materials like coffee filters or vacuum cleaner bags can be fashioned with little or no sewing. Felted wool or cotton flannel can also serve to block ultrafine particles.
Masks don’t have to be a political metaphor. You can support President Trump and still wear one. You can disagree with Gov. Jay Inslee’s extended “Stay Home” orders and still wear one.
We’re fortunate to have a role model in the governor’s office who hasn’t let vanity stop him from wearing a mask or urging others to do likewise.
Kudos, also, to Costco, the Washington-based warehouse store operator that recently started requiring customers to wear face coverings. What are the other big grocers and retailers waiting for?
And we’re happy to see that four months after the US’s first known case of coronavirus traveled through Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, the Port of Seattle finally announced it will require face masks for passengers effective May 18..
Pierce Transit should follow, and fast. Without the ability to effectively social distance on public transit, face coverings should be mandatory.
A mask might not be comfortable; it might not look cool, but if it keeps folks from getting sick just grin and wear it.