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Mask the drivers, STA

I would like to congratulate … and give my thanks to … the Spokesman-Review for such thorough, timely and objective coverage of the COVID-19 health pandemic. I would also give my kudos to the Spokane Health Department (and Washington state) for quickly getting on top of this social health issue.

However, I disagree with the Spokane Transit Authority on the mask issue: if you have them for your drivers, issue them. The only reason the CDC is now saying not to consider masks is because of their shortage. It is not yet known if the virus aerosolizes, or to what distance, and asymptomatic carriers are a real issue. If a driver gets infected and has no symptoms, he/she can pass it on to many people, especially the immune compromised STA users such as the elderly.

At this juncture, there is no such thing as “going overboard.” On the contrary, we need to “flatten the curve” of infections in order to stay ahead of this pandemic.

Julian Gonzalez, MD, MPH

Spokane

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