Masks lead people to not wash hands?
Dr. Bonnie Henry seems to suggest that requiring the wearing of masks will give people a false sense of security and they will stop doing the other things required (washing hands, keeping distance). Thus she is not in favour of requiring them. I’m not sure why, however.
When it became law to wear seatbelts in cars, people didn’t start speeding, they didn’t stop using the brakes, and they didn’t think it was now safe to drive at night with their headlights off. Wearing masks is just another safety measure. Most people, I think (I hope?), are wise and thoughtful enough to realize the more ways to protect ourselves and our neighbours, the better.
Think of handwashing as your seat belts, two-metre distancing as your brakes, and masks as airbags for your face. Jeff McLaughlin, Kamloops
School strategies for safe distancing
I can think of three organizational approaches to reducing student contact in secondary schools.
First, organize by use of a quarter system timetable, which would require only two classes per day. Another alternative is the semester system, which requires four classes. Both are less than the traditional eight-class system.
Second, put students on shift, with two shifts per day. Thus, only half of the students would be on site at one time.
Last is to have students stay in the same classroom as much as possible and to have teachers move between classes.
Reducing student contact by such means is achievable without sacrificing instructional time.
Tarry Grieve, Port Moody
COVID-19 concerns about transmission
As a frequent visitor to Vancouver, I travel by ferry, bus and SkyTrain. I enjoy Vancouver, but the voyage makes me nervous as I see so many people without masks. On the ferries, I can stay outside, but that is not an option on the bus or SkyTrain.
I am mostly concerned about people who talk in enclosed spaces.
The B.C. CDC states that COVID -19 is spread mainly by coughing, sneezing and talking. I would argue that talking is by far the greatest threat as it is often continuous.
Experiments using laser technology have shown that, while normal breathing does not produce drops of saliva, the spit really flies when a person speaks, laughs or sings. Health agencies around the world now recognize that mask wearing can significantly reduce the transmission of the virus. Wearing a mask is not so much about protecting oneself as others.
Travellers can help prevent others from becoming seriously ill or even dying by wearing a mask, or simply sitting down and being quiet. The new mandatory mask rules that are coming on Aug. 24 should be observed by all.
Frants Attorp, Salt Spring Island
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