Letter to the editor: Masks and 'good citizens'

Delmont Council Vice President Bill Marx’s feigned outrage is pure political grandstanding (“Everyone should follow the rules”). Elected officials define a “good citizen” as someone wearing a mask and a “dangerous citizen” as someone not wearing a mask. Marx’s obtuse argument endangers the health and welfare of himself and the general public, in that he promotes mask use to the negation of other important mitigating actions.

What are those actions? If you’re not feeling well or you may have been exposed to someone with covid-19, stay home and call your doctor. Practice social distancing of 6 feet or greater. Avoid close contact with an individual for 15 minutes in a 24-hour period. Wash hands frequently and, when unable, use hand sanitizer. Wear a mask. Of course, it is assumed all of these are done correctly.

Sanctimoniously touting mask use without emphasizing all other mitigating efforts leads to reckless behavior. Do I really want to be in a checkout line with someone sneezing or coughing, being within 6 feet of me for even eight minutes, as they adjust the body of their mask with their hand and touch the metal by the conveyor belt? According to Marx’s point of view, that person is a “good citizen” because he/she wears a mask. Me? I would get far away from that individual, mask or no mask.

One wonders if Marx’s feigned outrage has more to do with party affiliation and less with public health. Hmmm?

The Rev. James Holland

West Deer