-----  Choosing for others: your right?

 

Masks have been mandated by our province. Scientists have told us that masks help slow/stop the spread of Covid.  We're through one shut-down, so most sane people understand that to get through this we all must respect the regulations. 

Every day I am exposed to those who, despite having no formal education, experience or license in virology, insist that they should not have to wear a mask. I assume they also dispense medical advice and spread anti-vax theories, because they know better than professionals who have been studying viruses and pandemics for years.

My mask is not to protect me but to protect others from my droplets. Evidence is that one can be sick, not know it, not show symptoms, and yet infect others -- who can die. This is science, not opinion; it's not a debate, not up to 'joe public' who has no basis for declining a mask. One person has no right to choose infection for everyone around them. 

Those who feel exempt are deliberately spreading this pandemic; those who cause anyone's death through this stupidity should be charged with manslaughter.  

A mom in the grocery store should not have to yell "put on a mask!"  to protect her immunocompromised child;  the senior at the mall should not worry because someone decides that "masks are dumb";  a shopper should not fear infection because the business-owner doesn't enforce the policy. The police shouldn't be pulled off real work to chase 'special snowflakes' who aren't intelligent enough to follow the mandates.

No one should live in fear because one guy who wants the freedom to catch Covid cannot understand that he does not have the right to make that choice for others.

P. Cutrone

Aylmer