With the World Health Organization expanding its recommendations to those who should wear a mask, it is important to remember what a cornerstone Rochester is in the medical world. Mayo Clinic is one of the top health care systems in the nation. As such, we should be heeding the warnings of the medical and scientific community. Those who are experts with data (see citations for the articles and additional research below) know how important wearing a mask could be to stop COVID-19.
 
By simply wearing a mask, we help to slow down the spread of the disease to others in the community. This includes prevention of spread to our neighbors, health care workers, essential workers, and others. This includes our loved ones, such as our parents, our grandparents, or our children. 
 
With this information, please wear a mask and sign this petition to deliver to our Mayor Kim Norton, asking her to make wearing masks in public* a necessity.

Citations:

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/cloth-face-cover-guidance.html​ 

https://www.wbur.org/commonhealth/2020/06/30/face-masks-most-effective-defense-coronavirus​

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)31142-9/fulltext#%20​

http://ftp.iza.org/dp13319.pdf​

https://www.businessinsider.com/face-masks-social-distancing-curb-spread-coronavirus-research-2020-6​

https://www.cnn.com/2020/06/11/us/missouri-hairstylists-coronavirus-clients-trnd/index.html