The data becomes more clear every day and shows the masks are working to slow the Coronavirus.

This decision should be about objective data points. Science. 

But more important than the decision is the communication and roll out. We need to brand the masks as a kindness to others and a commitment to our community. It will be helpful to mention the bottom line impact on our state budget if the masks aren’t used and a crushing wave appears. Not everybody has health insurance and the testing alone is incredibly expensive. 

If a mask is driving you nuts, imagine being intubated and lying on your stomach for hours every day. Our masks are about protecting each other because we never know who has it and when, but we can see who cares about the people around them. 

They need to be mandatory and with an enforcement provision. Like shutting down the Lowe’s when five employees (all dudes) refuse to wear them. We all need to do this together. Nobody is loving it. Nobody. But we do it for each other.