Should you be wearing a facemask in public places in Mid-Missouri? Local health officials say yes
COLE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)
As health officials across the country are working to contain the spread of COVID-19, leaders in Mid-Missouri are asking people to wear masks when in public.
This comes as the CDC has changed its guidance on the use of cloth masks, recommending all Americans wear cloth face coverings in public areas where social distancing may be difficult to maintain, like grocery stores and pharmacies.
The face-covering recommendations are not a substitute for the 6 feet of social distancing between others but are another precaution hoping to slow the spread.
Local health officials from Boone and Cole counties weighed in, recommending people in Mid-Missouri follow these new recommendations.
The CDC says that recent studies show a large number of people with coronavirus didn’t have symptoms and even those who develop symptoms can transmit the virus to others before showing symptoms.
Chezney Schulte, the communicable disease coordinator for the Cole County Public Health Department, emphasized that cloth masks are meant to protect people around the wearer from germs the wearer might be spreading.
"If you have a mask on, any mild symptoms that you might not be noticing yet or in that time that you might be spreading the virus but not having symptoms yet, that's what you are protecting, other people that might be exposed to you," Schulte said.
Schulte said while the official guidance is meant to protect others, she believes there could be benefits to the wearer's safety, as long they don't touch their faces while wearing a mask.
The CDC and local health officials ask the public not to purchase and wear N95 masks and other surgical-grade masks, as those are in high demand by the medical community on the front lines.
"We have the opportunity to stay home, we have the opportunity to practice social distancing in our day-to-day lives, whereas those health care professionals don't have that option because they are interacting with COVID-19 patients and caring for them," Schulte said. "So they certainly deserve the best."
As for gloves, Schulte doesn't see a big advantage in wearing them unless the wearer is actively changing pairs after every activity. She said gloves are meant to stop cross-contamination, and if the wearer touches all the same items they would normally without changing, the virus can still spread.
"Gloves kind of give people a false sense of security and a false sense of protection, when really they are still touching all of the something they would with their bare hands," Schulte said. "Washing your hands and using a hand sanitizer does just as good."
Schulte said face coverings only need to be worn by those who are going to places where they might be exposed to multiple people. They're not needed for people who are walking or exercising around their neighborhoods while social distancing.
Schulte urged citizens to take the recommendation seriously, even though there are not as many cases of COVID-19 as there are in other places around the country.
"Now's the time to be cautious, that way we're not seeing a big spike in cases two weeks from now based on the activities we're doing today," Schulte said.
While it may put people out of their comfort zone to go out in public with a face covering, she said it will help keep the number of cases lower.
"I think it's something we need to normalize just so people understand that's kind of the expectation to protect the community," Schulte said.
Check back for more or watch ABC 17 News at 9 on KQFX and 10 on KMIZ for a full report.
