Wearing a face mask around town shows appreciation

To the editor:

There is no controversy about why people should wear masks when in public. An overwhelming majority of doctors and scientists have consistently said that the type of masks the general public has access to will not protect the wearer; they will only protect other individuals.

It has always been about wearing them for the protection of others.

On June 1, the world population was estimated at 7.8 billion. The United States population, on the same date, was 331 million. That put the United States population at 4.2 percent of the whole. Why is it, then, that we have 25 percent of the world’s COVID-19 cases and 26 percent of the fatalities?

Maybe our sense of personal freedoms might be getting in the way of what would be most beneficial for the overall health and well-being of our fellow Americans. Considering the dedication of our health workers and the courage of the individuals consistently going to work so there are no breaks in our food chain, one might consider it a civic duty to wear a mask to help prevent the spread of the virus.

It is something everyone can do to show our appreciation for the people on the front lines. It is just a thought.

Scott Rodich

Troy