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PHD guidelines will help keep schools, businesses open

| December 1, 2020 1:00 AM

Please consider the health and well-being of the entire community when you chose to not only not honor the mask mandate declared by Panhandle Health District, but to financially penalize them as well, for working hard and doing their best to keep us all safe. This sends the message to the community that individual rights are more important than keeping our citizens safe. It is just plain irresponsible.

Healthcare workers of all kinds need every bit of help and cooperation they can get. This idea makes a mockery of all that is good about our community … people helping people for the good of all. We should be commending the folks who are willing to step up to help and protect their fellow citizens. Putting your own trivial needs and preferences above others’ more serious ones, is self-centered and downright dangerous, especially when following health guidelines is such a simple matter.

There is no doubt that a mask mandate would be difficult to enforce. But having one in place that is recommended, supported and followed by the leaders of the community sends a strong message that we all need to do our part to fight this pandemic. Masks are not perfect, but it has been proven that if worn consistently and correctly, they can be at least 70% effective. Even having law enforcement focusing on the educational component will be helpful and effective. We have been fortunate so far with our rate of infection. Please recommend we follow PHD's guidelines and do all in our power to keep it that way. In doing so we will be able to keep schools and businesses open.

MARGIE CORCORAN

Sagle