This letter to the leadership of the Town of Buena Vista (BV) was received for publishing by Ark Valley Voice:
Dear Mayor, Trustees,
I’d like to share a link with you in regards to the COVID-19 protocol by the City of Golden. It certainly is something that most never anticipated in having to enforce, but with increasing spikes all over the U.S., it does make sense. It worked in other parts of the world.
https://www.facebook.com/102763456429361/posts/3483916688314004/?d=n
Image courtesy of Blueprint.com
Buena Vista attracts tourists and the majority of people, locals and visitors, do not wear masks. Stores with signs mandating entry only with face coverings are not able to enforce their own rules, as the majority of patrons remove their masks as soon as they are inside.
I believe that a mandate by the town itself is necessary to uphold protocol and integrity for all of us. The inconsistent approach not only causes more risks for everyone but unnecessary tensions amongst people. It invites trouble in the form of arguments that could lead to more. We have seen it happen.
BV needs the same protocol. With many tourists coming, some from hot spots, we will never see the light at the end of the tunnel. Our town suffered enough already. I feel that social distancing is only a small element to prevent spreading and it’s not applied much any longer, by most.
At the hot springs, big groups of people sit next to each other with no masks, no distance, and no regard for the risks.
So the implementing of rules like Golden did would serve our community by applying commonsense and respect for all, without the constant, unnecessary warfare amongst residents, over mask-wearing. Many make a mockery of it, which could be simply avoided by strict enforcement of a city mandate.
I don’t enjoy wearing a facemask either. As I already have breathing difficulty due to a narrow air pipe, it’s not fun to wear a mask; but it’s a small price to pay instead of the bad continuing consequences of the virus, that puts all of us and our health care workers at risk. Not wearing [facemasks] prolongs the economic downfall indefinitely and certainly does not improve the flattening of the curve. Please consider it. Thanks for your time.
Respectfully,
Monika Courtney
Buena Vista
No to mask requirements!!
I am OSHA 10&30 certified. I know some of you are too. I don’t really know WHY OSHA hasn’t come forward and stopped the nonsense BUT I want to cover 3 things
• N95 masks and masks with exhale ports
• surgical masks
• filter or cloth masks
Okay, so upon further inspection, OSHA says some masks are okay and not okay in certain situations.
If you’re working with fumes and aerosol chemicals and you give your employees the wrong masks and they get sick, you can be sued.
• N95 masks: are designed for CONTAMINATED environments. That means when you exhale through N95 the design is that you are exhaling into contamination. The exhale from N95 masks are vented to breath straight out without filtration. They don’t filter the air on the way out. They don’t need to.
Conclusion: if you’re in Target and the guy with Covid has a N95 mask, his covid breath is unfiltered being exhaled into Target (because it was designed for already contaminated environments, it’s not filtering your air on the way out).
• Surgical Mask: these masks were designed and approved for STERILE environments. The amount of particles and contaminants in the outside and indoor environments where people are CLOGGING these masks very, VERY quickly. The moisture from your breath combined with the clogged mask will render it “useless” IF you come in contact with Covid and your mask traps it, YOU become a walking virus dispenser. Everytime you put your mask on you are breathing the germs from EVERYWHERE you went. They should be changed or thrown out every “20-30 minutes in a non sterile environment.”
• Cloth masks: I can’t even believe I’m having to explain this…. Today, three people pointed to their masks as they walked by me entering Lowe’s. They said “ya gotta wear your mask BRO” I said very clearly “those masks don’t work bro, in fact they MAKE you sicker” they “pshh’d” me. By now hopefully you all know CLOTH masks do not filter anything. You mean the American flag one my aunt made? Yes. The one with sunflowers that looks so cute? Yes. The bandanna, the cut up t-shirt, the scarf ALL of them offer NO FILTERING whatsoever. As you exhale, you are ridding your lungs of contaminants and carbon dioxide. Cloth masks trap this carbon dioxide the best. It actually risks your health, rather than protect it. The moisture caught in these masks can become mildew ridden over night. Dry coughing, enhanced allergies, sore throat are all symptoms of a micro-mold in your mask.
-Ultimate Answer:
*N95 blows the virus into the air from a contaminated person.
*The surgical mask is not designed for the outside world and will not filter the virus upon inhaling through it. It’s filtration works on the exhale, (Like a vacuum bag, it only works one way) but likely stops after 20 minutes, rendering it useless outside of a STERILE ENVIRONMENT (correct Becky, they don’t work in a bar, not even a little bit).
*Cloth masks are WORSE than none. It’s equivalent to using a chain link fence to stop mosquitos.
The CDC wants us to keep wearing masks. The masks don’t work. They’re being used to provide false comfort and push forward a specific agenda. For the love of God, research each mask’s designed use and purpose, I bet you will find NONE are used in the way of “viral defense.”
Just like EVERY Flu season kids, wash your hands. Sanitize your hands. Don’t touch stuff. Sanitize your phone. Don’t touch people. And keep your distance. Why? Because your breath stinks, your deodorant is failing, your shoes are old and stink, that shirts not clean, & I like my space. Trust me I can hear you from here. Lots of reasons to keep your distance and work on body hygiene. But trust me, the masks do not work.
*Occupational Safety & Hazard Association sited.
The top American organization for safety.
They regulate and educate asbestos workers, surgical rooms, you name it.
I know, facts suck. They throw a wrench into the perfectly (seeming) packaged pill you are willingly swallowing. Facts make you have to form your OWN OPINION, instead of regurgitating someone else’s, and I know how uncomfortable that makes a lot of you. If your mask gives you security, by all means wear it. Just know it is a false sense of security and you shouldn’t shame anyone into partaking in such “conspiracies.”
Wash your hands…keep your distance…be mindful of others but know the masks are not the end all here.
Read up for yourself on the difference between the masks and what the most important practices are to keep you and others safe.”
Editor’s note. Barb, there are differences among mask types, as you correctly point out. But your claims that masks do not protect against the coronavirus known as COVID-19 are not substantiated, nor is it true that surgical masks don’t stop the virus — they can, and they most surely have, given how many critical health care workers wear them regularly, including those fighting this virus who haven’t had enough personal protective equipment. OSHA has lost significant funding under this administration and appears to have been mostly silenced. In fact, as AVV editor, I have personal contact with an OSHA-Certified Safety Professional who refutes your statement. There is no scientific evidence that cloth masks don’t work — in fact, the Centers for Disease Control has done tests as has other infectious disease centers, and they verify that droplets from coughs and sneezes and singing can travel several feet (and beyond six feet) over the course of many seconds. Further, they say that cloth masks can — and do– stop transmission of those droplets. Given that we now know that many infected people have no symptoms and are spreading the virus before they know they are sick, this simple step can prevent infections and might save lives.
FActs do, indeed, matter.
Also note, Barb added this comment: “I’m not OSHA certified; from one who is. Can’t find the edit option.”
Thanks for nothing, Barb. Your “educated” letter has holes as big as the Grand Canyon in it! Ask ANY of the health professionals and they will tell us to wear a mask. Plus, it is just disrespectful not to!
BTW, everyone might want to shop at Safeway in Salida because they are trying to be very proactive about enforcing masks and I witnessed someone who was asked to leave for refusing to wear one. Compare that to the big box store on Hwy 50…most folks do not wear a mask. Never thought that making a simple choice about shopping locations may keep you healthy!