The way President Donald Trump tells it, the COVID-19 pandemic is all but vanquished in the U.S., with a vaccine just around the corner.
Health care workers across the country know better. Coronavirus cases are surging to record highs, a fact that’s not attributable to increased testing, according to Adm. Brett Giroir, who leads the federal government’s coronavirus testing response. Hospital beds in hard-hit states such as Utah, Idaho and North Dakota are filling up with COVID-19 patients, and if the surge continues, those hospitals could be overwhelmed.
The pandemic is far from over. We’re facing another round of economically damaging lockdowns unless the virus can be controlled until, and even after, a vaccine is approved for use and there are enough doses available for every American who wants one.
At this moment, the best way to do that is by widespread adherence to social distancing and face mask guidelines as outlined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
But too many people are not following the guidelines, either for ideological reasons, personal discomfort or doubt about masks’ ability to stop the virus. Studies have shown unequivocally that masks are effective at preventing virus transmission if used correctly.
Furthermore, there are good data that indicate mask mandates save lives. Recently, researchers in Kansas found significantly lower infection rates in counties that observed mask mandates than those that did not.
It’s clear that it’s high time for uniform mask mandates that apply to every corner of the U.S. And the push must come from the top.
President Trump is responsible for stirring up much of the antipathy for masks, and he and his coronavirus task force can fix it by putting politics aside and calling on every American to do their part to slow the virus and wear a mask in public places.
The best way to avoid more lockdowns is to mask up, and the president needs to lead the way.
— Los Angeles Times