Letter: Follow public health rules for everyone’s sake

I am a retired public health social worker primarily working in the field of HIV/AIDS. Public health has always guided and educated us regarding safety precautions. Now with COVID-19, public health education is social distance, wash your hands and wear a mask.

It is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities; congregating in groups unmasked and not social distancing are the more obvious.

The issue of masks is not about control, or about denying your comfort, or about making you live in fear. There is a public health crisis. In response, two things are asked of us to help stem the spread of COVID-19. It isn’t a big ask when you think about protecting someone else, someone close to you like a parent or a child.

I urge my community to do what is being asked of us by public health. Do it not only out of consideration but to protect all people so we can survive this difficult and trying time, so we can recover what we love and miss the most and so we can repair what I observe to be a disconnect between ourselves and others.

Your actions are essential to our collective mission: to swiftly contain this virus and protect public health. Now is the time to care selflessly about one another. Wearing a mask is about demonstrating our respect and care for other people around us.

Grant County Health is working tirelessly to help us. We can do our part too.

Sylvia Schempp

Ephrata