Wearing Masks in Public a Gesture of Concern for Community

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Anderson County Council meets tonight, the third in-person meeting since the beginning of the revised schedules caused by COVID-19 and a good time to take stock of how seriously citizens are taking the virus.

In the first two meetings, the county has done a good job of setting the stage for the public to attend these meetings while maintaining healthy precautions.

All in attendance have their temperatures checked at the door, chairs are spaced well over six feet apart, and masks are offered at the door to those who don’t have one. 

But masks are not mandatory, and at Thursday night’s meeting fewer than half in attendance chose to wear them.

It was a relatively long meeting, and afterward many of those not wearing masks huddled in shoulder-to-shoulder groups to discuss the business of the evening. 

Meanwhile on Thursday South Carolina posted a then record 987 new cases of the virus. On Saturday that number rose to 1,187 statewide, while Anderson County has seen it’s largest weekly increase since the beginning of the virus with 48 cases in two days going into the weekend. 

Our state is one of the fasting growing areas for COVID-19, and hospitals are beginning to reflect the rise in cases with an uptick in admissions, although thankfully not in proportion to the large increase in positive cases.  

AnMed has bee requiring masks of all patients and visitors for weeks. 

The City of Greenville just indicated it’s taking the rise seriously by requiring masks be worn in grocery stores and pharmacies. Auburn University announced this week all students, staff and faculty will be required to wear masks when returinng in the fall.

Current evidence clearly suggests wearing a mask slows the spread of the disease. The European Union, where masks are more widely used, has seen a dramatic drop in cases of the virus. So why the resistance here? 

While there is still much to be learned about COVID-19, it’s clear that wearing masks could play a major role in slowing its spread. 

Sadly, it’s reached the point that many here either don’t believe the virus is a serious threat, or believe wearing/not wearing a mask is a political statement or some expression of freedom. Some even taunt those in public wearing masks, which is immature at best.

Interesting that many of these same people have little issue with laws requiring the wearing of a seatbelt, or other everyday limits such as elevator occupancy or speed limits.  

Such rules/requirements are widely considered for the good of all, and obeyed with little griping.

It’s time wearing masks in public places joins those regulations, at least for now. Putting those required to work regularly with the public, and others who are out and about at risk for little reason is foolhardy. High-risk groups who have largely stayed at home should not have their health threatened because the friend or family member who buys their groceries was exposed by those not wearing masks. 

Tonight’s county council meeting, which looks to be a short one, would be a good place all citizens to begin to recognize that wearing a mask is a simple courtesy. Free masks will be available. Once again it’s optional, but as virus numbers climb perhaps it should be required next time the council meets. 

Wearing masks in public places is an easy, simple step we can all practice to exhibit our concern for the well being of our community. Why wait for new laws to start?