Petition for Maury County Mayor Andrew Ogles, and other officials, to encourage citizens to wear masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Columbia, TN and surrounding communities
 
 
We, the undersigned, petition his Honor County Mayor Andrew Ogles protect the health and well-being of the Maury County community by encouraging every citizen to wear a mask in accordance with the advice of science and health professionals about SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19.

When not wearing a mask one can shed virus particles within saliva, thereby contaminating surfaces or other people directly. Even those exhibiting no symptoms during the early period of infection will shed virus particles in saliva, resulting in aerosols that may infect others directly or contaminate surfaces. Peer-reviewed scientific research on SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, has determined the wearing of masks acts as a mechanism to contain virus particles and prevent transmission of the particles to others.
 
Masks are not worn to protect the wearer from the virus. Masks are worn to reduce the chances of transmission of the virus by an infected individual. As more people wear masks, there is less community spread of COVID-19. Here is an example: The at-risk person wears a mask every time they go to the store. They get sneezed on by a person not wearing a mask who is infected with the virus and is not practicing physical distancing behavior. This results in the infection of a vulnerable person who has properly followed advice for wearing masks and physical distancing. COVID-19 also carries a risk of multiple long-term health consequences, even in those considered low risk. Long-term health consequences and death are expected in the vulnerable populations who contract COVID-19.
 
This petition is signed by authorities with expertise in scientific and/or healthcare fields who teach or reside in Maury County, Tennessee, and community members who support science-based health, social, and behavior recommendations within Maury County. The purpose of this petition is to require officials in the county to do the following:
 
·      Request and encourage ALL residents of Maury County to wear masks, not just those who are considered at risk or concerned for their own health.
 
·      Share accurate, up-to-date, and reliable scientific information as it is available while encouraging citizens to follow CDC guidelines to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Columbia, TN and surrounding communities.
 
Thank you for your support.

When signing this petition please add your title or position next to your name.
 
 

Additional scientifically supported resources for further educational information on COVID-19:
 
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext?fbclid=IwAR1xRNzJKXXQ303Tlf3R-iys_v6IqbrK85st52ibjqcN4ABzNDGI7N4L9jU
 
https://covid19risk.biosci.gatech.edu/?fbclid=IwAR1rhvxMXnVeN-tEiNSARqLb4owwM9o6zwkkD0Wa1yxznKISEmI0poxnI3k
 
http://www.healthdata.org/covid
 
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
 
https://www.tn.gov/health/cedep/ncov.html
 
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laninf/article/PIIS1473-3099(20)30287-5/fulltext
 
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/eclinm/article/PIIS2589-5370(20)30177-2/fulltext
 

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