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Aug. 13, 2021

Gov. Kate Brown’s reinstated mask mandate goes into effect today, requiring all Oregonians age 5 and older to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces.

It’s a smart move, one that is unequivocally supported by St. Charles. The highly transmissible Delta variant of COVID-19 is spreading rapidly through our communities and overwhelming our hospitals. In addition, our data shows that we are still weeks away from the peak of this current surge.

That’s the bad news.

The good news is we already know the best way out of this pandemic, and that’s by vaccinating more people, wearing masks in public places and practicing good hand hygiene.

When people get vaccinated, they greatly protect themselves against severe illness and death from COVID-19. When you wear your mask, you slow the spread of the virus, protect others from infection and hospitalization and reduce strain on our health system. And please believe me: We need to reduce the strain on our health system. Right now.

So if you haven’t gotten vaccinated, please do so ASAP.

Now, let’s talk about masks.

Unfortunately, I think we can expect compliance with Gov. Brown’s mask mandate to be significantly lower this time around, for many reasons: people are tired of wearing them, they believe the danger has passed, they’ve dug in their heels in opposition. Some people may simply be confused, or they may believe that if they’re vaccinated, there is no need to wear a mask.

Today, I want to urge each and every person reading this to wear a mask in indoor public spaces and in crowded outdoor spaces. In fact, I would say it’s never been more important to wear your mask during this pandemic than it is right now.

It’s also becoming increasingly important that you choose the right mask. I know there’s a lot of confusion about the different types and how well each one works. Below, I’m going to try to provide some very simple and clear guidance to help you make sure you’re buying and wearing the right mask for you.

N95s offer the best protection against COVID-19 and the Delta variant, but please be aware: The Centers for Disease Control says health care workers and others who work in hazardous conditions should have prioritized access to them.

KN95s are your next best option. They provide the same level of filtration as N95s but are certified differently. If you buy some, look to see if they meet requirements set by the National Institute for Occupational Safety (NIOSH).

Surgical masks are easier to acquire, more comfortable and more affordable. However, they are also harder to fit properly, which can lead to gaps between the mask and your face. With the Delta variant now dominant in Central Oregon, a well-fitted mask is more important than ever, so look for masks with adjustable cords, ear loops and nose wires to help improve fit.

The effectiveness of cloth masks depends on how porous the fabric is. Look for cloth masks made of multiple layers of tightly woven, breathable fabric. One way to test a mask is by holding it up to a light source and seeing if the mask blocks the light. You can also double up with a cloth mask over a surgical mask for extra protection.

If you’d like to dig deeper into the different types of masks and their effectiveness, please be sure to seek out a credible source. Here’s a great page of information courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control.

And if you don’t want to dig deeper? That’s fine. Here’s the main thing you need to know: The Delta variant of COVID-19 is highly transmissible and it is endangering thousands of unvaccinated Central Oregonians – including children who aren’t yet eligible for a shot. To protect them, it is absolutely vital that we get people vaccinated, and that all of us wear masks.

I have no political agenda here. I am not trying to curb your freedoms or control your life in any way. I am simply trying to keep people from getting very sick, from dying, and from needing care in our hospitals, which are already in crisis.

You don't have to take my word for it, though. Hear it from our caregivers in the St. Charles Bend Emergency Department, who are on the front line of this battle:

A visit to the ER

Please, help them out – help us all out, help each other out – by masking up and getting vaccinated.

Sincerely,
Joe

 
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