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Johnson: Masks have value in fighting COVID

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I am one of many retired RNs living in Sun City West, and like Joe Vogel, respiratory therapist of 25 years (“People do not want to catch COVID-19”) and the rest of my colleagues, we cringe when we are out in public and still see people not wearing a mask.

Some of the reasons convey a lack of understanding.

For those of you that believe face masks may not be helpful, there is truth to that statement only if you do not wear one, do not wear one correctly, do not wear one in the appropriate setting or do not include social distancing.

COVID-19 is spread through respiratory droplets from an infected individual. These droplets can travel at least six feet (further actually) when the individual sneezes, coughs, laughs, sings, talks vigorously using words like “who.”

As medical professionals, we pay attention to the science, not rumors. The science is these COVID-19 droplets can enter through your eyes, your nose, your mouth and/or be transferred to one of these openings via droplets from your contaminated hands, thus the importance of hand washing as well.

Do we know for certain who has the virus and who does not when we venture out? No.

I hope this information fosters understanding and the reason for all to wear a face mask when out, that and the fact that Maricopa County has mandated this.

Shirley Johnson
Sun City West