I am writing this petition due to my concern regarding COVID-19 and the exponential growth in our beloved state of Louisiana.  Four short weeks ago there were 103 cases and 2 deaths due to the virus. Today, just 31 days later, we have over 23,000 cases and 1,213 deaths. In fact, Louisiana has the fastest growing rate of COVID-19 cases in the world. At this rate, everyone will lose at least one loved one if not more. A person that I’ve known since I was a young child lost her life to COVID-19 on Wednesday. Instead of seeing her as a statistic, I choose to remember her as a mother, beloved grandmother, sister, active member in her church and friend. As I fretted about even writing this petition, I asked myself if I would do so if I thought it would make a difference. Truthfully, if I could have written this earlier to save her life, I would have in a heartbeat. Now, I do so in hopes of saving someone else.

In regards to contracting or spreading COVID-19, nothing compares to staying at home. Yet there are more essential workers, who don’t have the option to stay home, than most can imagine; many of whom do not wear or haven’t been given masks. All it takes is one asymptomatic worker/consumer to spread the virus to other workers/consumers who then go home to their families. Could situations like this be the reason for the continuous spread of the virus even though a “Stay Home” order was issued weeks ago?

On March 17th, the New York Times published an article "How Long Will Coronavirus Live on Surfaces or in the Air Around You?"  Per the article, “for weeks experts have maintained that the virus in not airborne. But in fact, it can travel through the air and stay suspended for that period of about a half –hour.” Aerosols and droplets are the primary transmitters of this virus therefore even once the contagions disintegrate into the air, it still has the potential to linger on surfaces. While I understand that there may be no way to eliminate contact with the virus once we’re in public places, there is a way to reduce the rate of transmission. In addition to social distancing, we must wear protective equipment. We must all wear masks.

Several communities that have been impacted by the virus have implemented precautionary procedures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and I am petitioning us to do the same. Essential services such as grocery stores, pharmacies, transit bus services, banks and gas stations must continue their functions just as we must continue to be their consumers to survive. However, one should not be placed at risk or question maintaining a reasonable portion of health and strength simply to purchase necessities for their household or handle urgent business matters. Likewise, workers should be equally protected. We must be proactive, and not wait for our rates of exposures, positives, and fatalities to multiply again to implement a mandate for essential workers and those entering essential stores to wear masks.

While I understand that N95 masks need to be reserved for our first responders and health care workers, I also know that N95 masks are not the only viable solution; whether it is homemade masks or cloth masks, we must find a way to increase the usage and reduce the spread of contagions. To do so, we need a mandate that requires every individual who chooses to go out into the public wear a mask.  Masks do much more than protect the wearer from the public, they protect the public from the wearer.  As I went to two places on Thursday searching for supplies to make masks to donate to others, I observed something very significant. Masks prevent the spread of the virus in other ways that are also very important.  I noticed that masks:

1)    Reduce aerosol transmissions due to reduced dialogue – people who wear masks just don’t talk nearly as much as those without.

2)    Promote individuals to be more cautious of the virus therefore causing them to social distance even more – anyone wearing masks stayed clear away from other people, especially those without the mask

3)    Consciously reminds individuals to take care of their business expeditiously – people who wear masks do not linger

4)    Discourage wearer from touching mouth and nose and act as a physical reminder not to touch eyes - since these are the main ways the virus spreads, a mask or any covering can stop the spread

5)    Reduce the risks of those who are asymptomatic carriers from transmitting the virus to others – these people are the most dangerous because they appear to be safe.

In essence, when a person is wearing a mask, transmission of the virus is also reduced significantly because they don’t talk much, they social distance more, they handle their business quickly and they can't touch their nose of mouth. The mask is a constant reminder that this virus is serious and we must all do our part to save lives.

Many may argue that masks create a false sense of security causing wearers to be more careless. In my observance, this has certainly not been the case. Also, many may argue that certain masks are not effective. Yet studies have shown that any covering over the mouth or nose will prevent the spread of droplets or aerosols that could be potentially dangerous to others. All protection is essential today, especially now. Even though some may claim that this approach is unnecessary, I’d much rather err on the side of caution and do everything possible to save lives, than to discover later that this would have protected many more people.

I am petitioning not just on behalf of myself, but also on behalf of our beloved communities who fear for their lives, and those who have lost their lives due to COVID-19. My hope is that a statewide mandate for masks to be worn in public be instituted immediately for the greater good of our families and our communities before we see our statistics multiply once more. Let’s work together and be more proactive to flatten the curve.