To the White House Coronavirus Task Force:
In order to minimize the effects of the coronavirus pandemic on our country, we believe there is an urgent need to institute a NATIONAL MANDATE to wear facial masks or coverings in public when social distancing measures cannot be guaranteed.
The Guidelines for Opening Up America Again do not mandate the national use of face masks or coverings in public. These guidelines only state the following for individuals: "strongly consider using face coverings while in public, and particularly when using mass transit". The Center for Disease Control website has the following guideline: "CDC recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based transmission". 
We, the signers of this petition, believe there should be more than a recommendation to wear masks. We believe there should be a NATIONAL MANDATE to wear face masks or coverings in public, while continuing to practice all other recommended hygienic measures. We all want to open the country as quickly and safely as possible. If we wish to maximize the possibility of the attainment of these goals, wearing masks in public is a necessity.
Reasons that we need a national mandate include, but are not necessarily limited to: 
1. According to the CDC website: "CDC continues to study the spread and effects of the novel coronavirus across the United States.  We now know from recent studies that a significant portion of individuals with coronavirus lack symptoms (“asymptomatic”) and that even those who eventually develop symptoms (“pre-symptomatic”) can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.  This means that the virus can spread between people interacting in close proximity—for example, speaking, coughing, or sneezing—even if those people are not exhibiting symptoms".
2. According to Dr. Hahn, the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, we will likely not have randomized controlled trials demonstrating effectiveness of therapeutics until early summer. 
3. We do not know the percentage of the population that is immune and we will not have a vaccine until next year. 
4. Masks have been shown scientifically to decrease the amount of viral particles in the ambient air of users.
5. None of the available masks protect the wearer from 100 per cent of viral particles.  Maximum possible protection in a public place is attained only through universal mask usage. 
6. It is clear that the general public will not adhere universally to the recommendations to use masks.
7. State governors have been inconsistent in their establishment of pandemic control measures. 

To those who appropriately are concerned about the opening of restaurants under this mandate, we propose the use of reusable transparent plastic curtains and/or plexiglass around all restaurant tables and booths. Other businesses may find a similar approach necessary. 

We recognize the public will need to be continually educated to the proper use of facial coverings. This has been occurring and is easy to continue.

If we fail to establish this mandate, the likely result will be greater morbidity and mortality. Also, we may be in much worse shape if there is a second wave of coronavirus during flu season.