Wear mask for others

I am thankful that Gov. Asa Hutchinson has issued a statewide mask mandate. He is correct that there would have been a lot of resistance to a mandate if he had issued it much earlier. I also agree that the mandate by itself won’t dramatically reduce the number of coronavirus cases in Arkansas. It is still up to each one of us to wear masks that properly cover the mouth and nose every time we will be near others in public. I hope all of us will choose to do our very best, and this moment becomes a turning point in our war against this disease.

In addition to this mandate, these are my top five reasons each of us should choose to wear masks. 5. On a per capita basis, Arkansas has risen from No. 43 to as high as No. 19. We can do better than this. 4. A lower number of cases will improve the chances that schools will reopen and stay open this fall. 3. There is no good reason to avoid wearing a mask, and we should be united in this war. Some say they are not wearing a mask in public because they are fighting for personal freedom; instead, many will think these “freedom fighters” are either ignorant in confronting this disease or arrogant. 2. We should wear a mask to not only protect the general public but also for the sake of others that we rely on. This would include health-care providers who will be exposed when they are treating us if we get sick, and the grocery store employees who provide our food. 1. Since wearing a mask protects others, I think it is the Christian thing to do. Thanks, Arkansas.

PAUL SIMMS Little Rock