Why do I still wear a mask in public?

Despite the fact I’ve had two Covid vaccines plus a booster, and despite the fact that I know that when I show up with a mask I tend to run the risk of alienating people in this county, I try to wear a mask in public. If I am eating I may leave the mask hanging around my neck. I feel it is important for me as a physician to continue to send the message that the pandemic is not over. I’m not trying to encourage everyone to wear a mask. I’ve given up on that. If given the choice between having people wear a mask or get vaccinated, I choose getting vaccinated. In fact, if the risk of serious adverse effects of the vaccine were ten times what I believe the risk to be, if you are over 30, I’d still advocate vaccination. As it is, I know the vaccines are not perfect, but I think they are the best weapon we have. The more people who get vaccinated, the more decisive I believe our victory will be.

But I wear the mask as a reminder to everyone that no matter how tired we are of this pandemic, we all need to continue to do what we think we should to fight this virus. I know we are tired of it, but ask any successful farmer, being tired is not a reason to not do what needs to be done. Whether you think you should wear a mask, get vaccinated, wash your hands, social distance or skip an indoor gathering, do it. We can prevent our hospital from being overwhelmed. We can win this war if we continue the fight and see this thing through. Every infection we prevent is a victory that tips the scales in our favor.

I wear the mask to remind us that there are people with Covid struggling in our hospital, and at least one community member fighting for his life in Greeley right now. Pro mask, anti-mask; pro-vaccine, anti-vaccine and everywhere in between we are all in this together. It’s not just what Covid may do to us as individuals. Even if you are a low risk young and healthy adult and don’t fear this virus, I know you don’t want to be the person who passed Covid on to someone who gave it to three others who gave it to your neighbor’s father who is in intensive care.

I wear the mask because, well because why not? It is easy and painless. There are no side effect for me. Some people may feel that have trouble breathing with a mask, but I sometimes leave my mask on while I’m riding my bike between the hospital and my clinic because although there is no infectious disease prevention function during that ride, it’s the easiest place to carry my mask, on my face. Why the emotional resistance to masks? I don’t know. I know people in this county don’t like to be told what to do. If the governor mandated everyone brush their teeth twice a day, would you refuse to brush your teeth?