Masking up again will help us all

The public was concerned enough about the spread of tuberculosis in 1896 to enact laws against spitting on sidewalks or indoor public buildings because it was understood that the disease was spread by spitting. Why does it seem so hard for some members of the public to understand now that people spread the COVID virus and its mutations by simply breathing it out into the air around them where other people can inhale the virus and it can lodge itself in their lungs?

The easiest way to prevent the spread of these viruses which have killed more than 605,000 Americans is to wear a mask. Were Americans at the end of the 19th century more realistic than the Americans today, who refuse to wear masks and who may condemn others for simply covering their noses to keep out the virus?

Beyond wearing a mask, Americans need to be vaccinated to halt the spread of the virus. They have survived being vaccinated for flu, and in fact, there has been a mild flu season this year because the Americans who are not superstitious about wearing a mask have protected themselves and others.

Virginia M. Jones

Oak Ridge