Good morning to all the virologists and infection control specialists of The Villages. We all know what opinions are like...everybody has one. Informed opinion, on the other hand, isn't so common. There is a good article on this topic in the May 20 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine.

It seems most of you are for a government mandate, and split over which government issues it. We already have mandates (laws, actually) against arson, looting and homicide. Governments aren't enforcing those laws very effectively nor evenly. Why would you want to give those same governments the authority to fine or arrest you over a piece of cloth that hasn't been proven to work?

Ohiobuckeye
 

I think you’re correct but for someone in a store to tell someone to put a mask on. They might tell them to or leave but I’m guessing they won’t because they probably don’t want to take a chance & start something. We have enough trouble going on. But I totally agree with you!!

Indoors is the main place this virus is transmitted.

#science

I agree with that. Mandate indoors is the way to go.

Prove that it does!

I think it should not be up to State Governors...Make it a Federal rule to be followed by all, if you do not want to wear a mask stay home...we need to do something this is now out of control and not looking good for the upcoming flu season on top of this...can we just try it for a few months?

Agree, its a flawed survey. Regardless, masks have been proven to work. The desire is to get the country back to normal. That isn't going to happen with masks required in one state, and not in a neighboring state. People do travel, there is movement of goods and services between states, so any guidance/restrictions need to be federally mandated. If there had been a federal mask requirement right at the onset, and good federal guidance, we wouldn't be in this mess. And the vaccine isn't the cure-all either. The same idiots that don't want to wear a mask, probably don't want to be vaccinated. You have the anti-vaxers who think it is all a hoax. So you will still have people running around un-vaccinated, who are spreading the disease. Wearing masks will keep the transmission down in the short term, and we can hope that a good vaccine comes out that is very effective. We need to have businesses and schools re-open, but it must be done safely. Masks are a good starting point.

Only a few wore seat belts before it was required. It’s no different with masks. Some local Governments and States have mandated masks but coming from the Federal Government It would carry additional weight. Given the science it seems like a no brainer and would save lives of our fellow Americans.

Is that a joke ?

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One simple question for the responders "MANDATE MASKS by the Fed gvt".

How would YOU ENFORCE THAT NATIONWIDE?

IMO simple question with a very difficult acheivable answer.

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Are you sure Biden said OUTSIDE??? That just does not make any sense at all. The mandate for masks should be for INDOORS. I did not vote in the poll because "mandate for wearing a mask INDOORS" was not an option.

I have been a huge proponent of mask wearing INDOORS when social distancing is not guaranteed. I am also a huge proponent of NOT wearing masks when OUTDOORS when social distancing is guaranteed.

Thanks for the information. I will NOT go into Bealls until they require masks.

"Ain't" it the truth?! Remember seat belts?! C'mon.... And until viruses can be trained to respect state borders, for consistency this has to be a national mandate.

Don't get ahead of yourself. Once there is an effective vaccine and/or therapeutics which can minimize the effects of this dreadful virus, the need for masking will be a thing of the past. I'm counting on there being a vaccine in the future so I'm on board with the mitigation of the virus in the only ways we know that works. That is masking, social distancing, washing hands often and DO NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE!

The US has too many wimps who do not want to follow the guidelines. I have second hand embarrassment for every one of those folks who refuse to listen to the science and do what they damn well please. They do make us Americans look like damn fools to the rest of the world.