Editorial

We need clear, local leadership on mask issue

Saturday, December 12, 2020

We’ve probably all spent a few moments speculating on what our 2019 selves would have said about the events of this year, from the ridiculous to the nerve-wracking.

We’ve all done it, and we want to take a few moments to do that again now.

Imagine in 2019 if someone had said to you, your hospital officials have said they are overwhelmed trying to treat an illness that has claimed 25 Butler County lives in a short period of time. The surrounding area is also hard hit, with Stoddard County seeing 54 deaths and Dunklin County 18 deaths.

The hospital has made a plea for help.

But the political climate could mean more than their request.

Dr. Donald Piland went before the Poplar Bluff City Council on Monday to request a mask ordinance. He brought with him tragic stories of people who have lost their lives locally to the current pandemic, and historical and scientific data for the council’s consideration.

“We lost 670,000 Americans due to the Spanish flu over three years’ time,” he said Monday. “We’re almost halfway there in a little over a quarter of the time with COVID-19.”

We are asking not just the city council, but also Butler County commissioners, to pay close attention to Dr. Piland’s request.

We also ask that you listen with your 2019 ears, taking a step back from a presidential election year that turned a worldwide crisis into a political sideshow.

Our local elected leaders may disagree with Dr. Piland or the research he presented. You may not believe face masks will help.

If that’s true, the citizens of Butler County need you to say that, and to explain clearly why you believe that and what resources support your views.

If you agree with Dr. Piland, but are afraid of the political backlash of such a measure, we’re sorry. We’re sorry you have been placed in such a difficult position. But as our leaders, you chose to step forward and make difficult decisions for the betterment of our community. If you believe it is in the best interest of public safety to undertake such a mask requirement, you have an obligation to do so.

Because our residents, our businesses and our schools are struggling to survive a health crisis that has gone on longer than any of us ever imagined. Their struggle isn’t just about their physical health. It’s also about the emotional and economic toll this has taken.

They need clear direction at a local level on how to proceed through what we’ve been told will be a very difficult winter.

They need to know that when they put a policy in place it is with the backing of their local government.

A lot of business owners are struggling with a way to keep their doors open, while reassuring their customers it’s safe to come in.

The comments on our recent stories about the city council meeting prove the difficulties they face in trying to manage this decision without local support.

Debbie Robertson commented, “Praying the city council listens! We have to do something to slow the spread and protect our community!”

“It’s a very small thing to do, to HELP stop the spread,” Teresa Harris McGinty said.

But LB McCraig strongly disagreed, writing, “Yes, sad to see people die but I’ll take my chances with less than a 1% death rate in Butler County, Mo. People die every day also even from flu, pneumonia, car wrecks, obesity, drug overdoses and so on. If people are sick or weak immune system or have a higher chance of it being very dangerous, yes, I agree, stay home, wear mask, but if masks work, why don’t the people who are worried about it being deadly wear it? They’re safe aren’t they?”

Keaton Craft posted, “Point is if you’re that scared about COVID. You can stay in your house and hide out while the rest of us keep the country going. Don’t get me started on the scientist you try to use. Because they are very consistent in flip flopping on a monthly basis.”

Clear guidelines from the city council and county could provide a direction we desperately need right now. Both have issued mask requirements for their own places of work — city hall and the county courthouse — so they are taking steps to protect their own employees and customers.

Taking action would be in line with other steps the local government has taken for the public health, like regulations on smoking and clean water.

Our former representative and current state leader of Missouri Healthnet, Todd Richardson, spoke this week on what we face in the coming weeks.

Missouri is averaging 22,000 new cases per week, Richardson said, which is double the rate at the first of October.

“It’s an incredibly high rate of disease spread,” Richardson said. “Much, much higher than we would like it to be ... Our numbers today are still more than three times what the White House set as the ... red zone threshold.

“It’s going to be really important for us to continue to monitor over the next several weeks, but also really reduce transmission.”

We’re all tired of this situation. The people who believe in wearing masks are tired. The people who don’t believe in wearing masks are tired.

But being tired of it doesn’t make it go away.

We still need to take steps to protect our residents’ health, and the economic health of our community.

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