Masks: To wear or not to wear on Elm Street?
Nearly everyone walking on Elm Street has a face mask — but often they are not wearing it.
Many hold them in their hands or put them in their pockets.
First Selectman Kevin Moynihan and New Canaan Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tucker Murphy have urged people to wear face masks when they visit Elm Street, because it is difficult to keep the recommended social distance of six feet to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
People seem to know to wear them in the stores, but often times, not when walking on Elm Street.
Selectmen wrestled with the issue during their Zoom meeting Tuesday.
“We do as much as we can to remind people to wear masks,” Moynihan said during a Zoom meeting of the Board of Selectmen Tuesday.
“I was disappointed to see the high school parade without masks,” he added. “We have to keep reminding people this pandemic will be with us all summer.”
Moynihan said town officials had just received word of a new case at a hospital, and said people must remain vigilant.
He urged wearing of masks “When in crowded areas, especially downtown. We have provided masks to merchants and restaurants.”
But Selectman Nick Williams said people are receiving mixed messages from all levels.
“You’re either quarantined or you’re not,” he said.
In restaurants, he said, one must wear a mask to enter, yet there are times they are removed.
“Everybody should wear a mask and maybe we shouldn’t have the restaurants open,” Williams said.
“You hear 15 different things,” Williams added. “Go online, and pick whatever data you need to support your cause.”
Over the course of a few days in mid June, nearly 20 people walking Elm Street were asked why they were or were not wearing a face mask. They often responded like Rob Jackson as he pulled his face mask out of his pocket.
“I have it. Whenever I go into a store I put it on, but when I am just waking down the street I don’t wear it. If I run into a store, or when I go into a restaurant, I will put it on,” Jackson said.
Susan Orser was holding a face mask in her hand. “I wear one when I am going into shops and when I am in restaurants I wear one when I go to the bathroom.”
“I walk around without one on because they are not very comfortable” Orser added. “I am not worried about getting coronavirus because I am healthy and if I got it, I would recover.”
“Why do I need a mask sitting here when I am not in a store?” Joe Marcogliese asked as he sat on a park bench near the New Canaan Playhouse. “Sitting here I see half the people walking around aren’t wearing a mask. I think people are getting tired of them.”
His wife, Joan Marcogliese, offered similar sentiments. “Every time I go in a store, the Post Office or anything I wear one.”
But she did not feel she was close to anyone on the bench to warrant wearing one.
“I feel like I have a sore throat after wearing my mask when I take it off. I think I am ingesting my own germs,” she said.
Kim Ciccarello had momentarily taken her face mask off.
“I would wear it if I were to go inside. There everyone is required,” she said. “It is okay not to wear a mask as long as you are not in a larger group of people or in a crowded area.”
Kenneth Hannan was not wearing a face mask for ” no particular reason. I have one in my pocket. I see a lot of people not wearing masks. I feel safe without one on.”
Many children under 18 often do not wear face masks in town.
A 12- year- old boy sat on the corner of South Avenue and Elm Street, “I usually wear a mask when in public,” but “I was out skateboarding,” and masks
“don’t let me breathe to full potential.”
His 13- year- old friend, who had been bicycling, said he usually wears a face mask because “I think other people are at risk.”
“I want them to be safe,” he said. But, he was riding his bike and ended up unexpectedly in town.
Several people were wearing face masks.
“I read somewhere that America is done with the coronavirus, but the coronavirus is not done with America,” said Carolyn Miller.
Miller said there is some attempt to get kids to wear masks. Recently she saw a group of teenagers without masks on and one of the children’s parents drove by and told the child to put his mask on.
“I feel more protected,” Denis Reihl said. “I don’t believe COVID is 100 percent gone.”
“I think everyone should wear one. It is intelligent because the disease if very spreadable,” Schuyler Andersen said through her mask.
“We are supposed to wear masks and follow social distancing to protect each other from the coronavirus,” Emma Gorman said.
Bob Rothenberg usually wears a face mask “because we are supposed to protect other people.”
Bill Lamb wore a mask to “prevent from getting the COVID,” he said.
“I see a lot of people honoring in breach,” which means to demonstrate a rule by breaking it, and hearkens back to William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, he said.
It is a way of “saying we don’t have to do it,” he said. “I think that is wrong.”
“The town is not going to enforce it, which is why people are not wearing them,” David Finkle said, through his face mask.
“I feel like more people should be wearing them,” Tracey Carter said. “I just got back from Louisiana and no one was wearing them there.”
Allison Archambault wears a face mask both to protect herself and others. “But when there are no people around, not close by, I usually take it off,” she said.
Selectman Kit Devereaux said she sees groups walking downtown without masks.
“We should have someone walking around telling them to put a mask on rather than sporadic reminders,” she said.
“I’m not sure I agree with you,” Williams said.
“I don’t think as a town we should be in the business of being the mask police. I don’t think our citizens are ready for that,” Williams added. “But if we get another spike and we all go back indoor and the restaurants close and no social contact … . What’s the next step? Do people go to jail? A special section of the police department for people not wearings masks?”
“I’ve said wear a mask,” Moynihan said. “When I go on Elm Street I wear a mask.”
A visitor from New York City, Oliver Bowcock said, “Some knuckleheads are without masks because they think they are not going to get it.”
“I don’t understand people who are inconsiderate not to wear one,” he added, it is “frightening” because “you don’t know who the carriers are, do you?”