Masks protect us all

We all have to wear seat belts, and we all have to wear helmets when we ride our motorcycles whether we like it or not. Those two items mostly protect the wearer. Wearing a mask goes both ways. It protects the wearer and the public. You don’t know where I have been and I don’t know where you have been. You cannot be 100% sure you don’t have the virus. Infected people with NO symptoms are likely to be just as contagious as those with symptoms. People who have the virus are contagious several hours before they feel sick.

We are all in this together, no amount of denial or political spin will change the course of this virus. Many other countries have paid the price early and are now in a position to safely open. Their cases have subsided while ours continue to climb. There’s a reason for that.

Not only does wearing a mask help protect our loved ones, our businesses, and our citizens, it helps to protect and reduce the burden on our health care workers.The way I see it, if I can support our troops on the front lines who may have to take a life in order to protect us, I can certainly support our health care workers who are on the front lines trying to save our lives. Wearing a mask is a small price to pay.

Brian Kendall

Republic, Wash.