It is no secret that COVID-19 has taken over 2020 and the lives of everyone across the globe. The never ending wait for it to be over has a lot of people wondering when they will be able to walk around without having to remember to wear a mask.

COVID-19 is an airborne sickness which means that it is transmitted through the air by coughing, sneezing or even talking. The only solution to combating the spread of the virus is to wear adequate masks when around other people. Johns Hopkins Medicine stated that an adequate mask is made with two layers of fabric that covers your mouth and nose as well as ear loops. According to the World Health Organization, symptoms of COVID-19 take an average five to six days to show, however it could also take up 14. This makes it a challenge to know when to wear a mask and who to wear a mask around.

If masks are worn in situations and locations that do not guarantee social distancing and proper safety measures, the likeliness of the transmission of COVID-19 will be significantly lower, and hundreds of thousands of lives will be saved, statisticians say.  It is not an excuse to assume that others are safe and free from the virus.

As winter time approaches, cases of the Flu will begin to increase in number along with the number of COVID-19 cases. China experienced the first wave of the virus during the winter of 2019, so this gives some perspective to scientists and researchers as to how bad the end of 2020 and the first few months of 2021 will go. 

Just like COVID-19, the Flu is also a respiratory viral infection. There were 40 times the amount of cases of the Flu during the fall and winter months of 2019, according to MIT tech review. 

Preventing hospitalization due to COVID-19 can only be possible if the spread of the virus through air particles is stopped by wearing masks recommended by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

According to a CBS news article published on Oct. 29, 2020, it is in debate whether or not a national mask mandate should be put in place. One of the nation’s top infectious disease doctors, Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends a national mask mandate to keep cases of infection out of hospitals, as it is needed urgently. He stated that the holiday season will only make cases rise, as social gatherings are inevitable. 

The main concern of the public is that the rise of COVID-19 cases will lead to the shutdown of the country for a second time. The current value of unemployment rates are at 8.2% which is the highest value history has seen going into an election going back to World War II, as reported by CNN on Oct. 1, 2020. Citizens need to bring money into their households and the shut down of the country will prevent that. This can all be avoided if masks are worn by everyone, social distancing is enforced and good hygiene is practiced. 

The concept of wearing masks is not a hard one. By not wearing a mask and practicing social distancing measures, you are not risking your health, but risking the health of your friends and family who may have severe underlying health conditions that can develop serious complications from COVID-19 illness, as stated by the CDC. 

Getting everyone to wear a mask is the first and necessary step to defeating the virus that has robbed people of their jobs and education. 

Below are websites that you can purchase masks that are approved by the CDC.

https://nymag.com/strategist/article/best-fabric-masks-to-buy-online.html – The strategist has tested 44 plus stylish and safe masks to wear.  

You can also support students in the WCHS community by purchasing masks from student run Solidarity Masks. 

https://solidaritymasks.org/