Despite the dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases this month in Arizona, Governor Doug Ducey has said that he will not require people to wear masks in public yet at the same time he is saying we need to protect those with underlying conditions. Governor Ducey, you do realize by not mandating the wearing of masks in public places, you are not protecting those with underlying conditions, right? You are essentially telling those of us who are at high-risk that our lives do not matter.
I don’t want to single out Governor Ducey or the state of Arizona because there are a lot of governors and even the President of the United States who are saying the same thing despite the fact that there are tons of articles including this one that show that wearing masks as opposed to not wearing them offers a better opportunity to extinguish the spread of COVID-19.
Let’s be clear. Wearing a mask is not the only way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Washing hands and social distancing are key contributors as well but the mask seems to be the bone of contention. I do understand that children under two and some people who already have chronic breathing issues may not be able to wear them. That unfortunately does not cover a majority of the people who refuse to wear them.
As a frequent mask-wearer, I want to thank those of you who are wearing masks during this pandemic especially those of you who are not considered high-risk. The following letter is not meant for you though I hope you will share it. This letter is intended for those who refuse to wear a mask when venturing into places that we could mutually attend. This letter is for those of you who think wearing a mask makes you look stupid and violates your civil rights. This letter is for someone like Governor Ducey, who doesn’t see how covering your mouth and nose could save lives in the pandemic age. Please take a few moments to read this and how your actions affect many of us with underlying conditions specifically in regards to the cystic fibrosis community.
To Whom It May Concern,
I’m not going to ask you why you won’t wear a mask to protect yourself. Wearing a mask after all is not about protecting you. I’m asking you why you won’t wear a mask to protect those of us around you who are considered high-risk.
Before this pandemic even started, those of us with underlying conditions had to be extremely careful around you. If you coughed, sneezed or complained of feeling under the weather, we covertly maneuvered out of your way so not to reveal how you personally could put our health at great risk.
I have cystic fibrosis, a genetic lung disease that means I’m at greater risk of getting gravely sick from a virus. Every day many of us have to do several nebulizers, vest treatments, take 30 to 40 enzymes, administer oral and/or IV antibiotics, puff on inhalers, snort down nasal treatments morning and night and exercise like our lives depend on it. Ok, our lives do depend on it. All we are asking from you in that same 24-hour period is that you wear a mask in a public place because…well…our lives depend on that too.
It has been a lot of work to protect ourselves over the years. Besides all the treatments we do and medications that we are on, 90 percent of us can now use a CFTR modulator which we’ve been waiting a lifetime for and it can drastically improve our lung function. The other 10 percent of us still have hope that a modulator will be found to help us too. Every day we pray for a cure.
We just can’t understand why we are doing all of this work but it doesn’t seem to matter to you because you think wearing a mask is stupid. If it was a priority to you to keep us safe, you would be wearing a mask when you walked into a public place. I don’t think you know what it’s like for someone like me to go near or even in a public place and witness you not wearing something to cover your nose and mouth. You’re not just potentially spreading a virus that could endanger our lives. You’re also spreading fear.
Please don’t tell us that not wearing a mask has to do with your civil liberties. We all have to wear clothes every day, right? We don’t see you complaining about that. Please also don’t tell us that wearing a mask makes it more difficult for you to breathe (though we do understand there are rare cases in which you really cannot breathe for one reason or another). We know it is more difficult to breathe while wearing a mask but our breathing is already compromised and we still have to wear one. If you tell us we are high-risk so just stay home, we will ask you how would you feel if someone just said to stay home for the rest of your life. You’d go insane. We are going insane. Besides, it does not solve the problem because the virus is still being spread due to the lack of masks worn. We also do not like it when you say that some people are just going to have to die from this virus. Odds are those people have underlying conditions. We in the cystic fibrosis community have underlying conditions. Are you okay with us dying so your civil liberties are not violated or you don’t have to look stupid wearing a mask? We’re not.
Please wear the mask. It’s as much a nuisance to us as it is to you and it’s an even bigger nuisance that we feel the need to beg you to wear it. I cannot promise that others won’t ridicule you. I cannot promise that someone won’t think you’re contagious. I cannot even promise that it will one hundred percent save our lives. What it does reveal is that our lives matter too and we really need to hear that right now.
Thank you for listening.
Sincerely,
Andy Lipman
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Please stay safe by social distancing, washing your hands thoroughly and of course wearing a mask in public places. Your actions not only control the spread of COVID-19. They also play a huge role in our hopes for the future.
Live your dreams and love your life.
Andy