Mandatory masks ‘misguided’ idea

COVID-19 has been with us for several months and we’ve seen ups and downs with regard to transmission in our region.

I usually wear a face mask when I go to stores and I think it’s a good idea as masks can reduce the spread of COVID-19 when someone coughs, sneezes or speaks.

However, the decision announced by Dr. Wajid Ahmed of the Windsor Essex County

Health Unit to require mandatory face masks by anyone visiting commercial establishments in the region is misguided.

First, I believe that most of us are responsible citizens and care about those around us. Clearly, there are those who do not care. If anything, these individuals will become more entrenched by face mask requirements.

And with no resources to enforce such orders, they are destined to fail.

Second, our community COVID-19 transmission rates are low. Recent spikes have been driven by the farm industry.

Previous spikes have included long-term care and health care workers. Each of those spikes was handled via testing and infection control among those populations.

Meanwhile, random community testing of nearly five thousand residents resulted in a handful of positives.

WECHU’S job is to approach the COVID-19 outbreak from a public health perspective.

The unfortunate timing of the WECHU decision to require face masks only serves to erode their ability to provide leadership as we move forward. There needs to be additional voices to offer a balanced dialogue with regard to the return of our commerce. David Ledgerwood, Windsor

The unfortunate timing of the WECHU decision to require face masks only serves to erode their ability to provide leadership as we move forward. There needs to be additional voices to offer a balanced dialogue with regard to the return of our commerce. — David Ledgerwood