Masks Are What Will Save Us

Once a huge source of controversy, there is a growing national consensus on the effectiveness and necessity of masks.  Republicans and democrats alike are now imploring the public to mask up. Even President Trump has changed his tune, just recently coming out with a strong endorsement and calling wearing a mask ‘patriotic.’  Public health experts have been explaining for a while that wearing a mask is a basic and essential part of curbing the spread of COVID-19 as we head into what promises to be a very dark fall.

When worn by 80% of a population, masks have been shown to be more effective than a strict lockdown.  The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimated that if 95% of people wore masks, we could save 40,000 lives by November. While several promising vaccines are in development, there will be no vaccine to save us this year and a natural herd immunity has been shown to be unrealistic due to the sheer size of our population and the rapidness at which COVID-19 antibodies disappear.  YOU CAN GET REINFECTED.

Testing is also expected to be overburdened this fall as large numbers are expected to increase the amount of tests needed as people attempt to distinguish between the flu, common colds and COVID-19. The White House is moving to block more money for the CDC and testing.  With no vaccine, no real federal support and limited testing, our last hope is that Americans are able to come together and adopt mask wearing, not as some type of politicized act, but to save our country from what might well be what the director of the CDC is saying will be one of the most difficult times we’ve ever experienced in American public health.

It’s time for American to mask up.

Yours in Strength,

The Take Back Control Team