Brown: Masks to 'become part of our daily lives'
By SARA CLINE Associated Press/Report for America
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Beginning next Wednesday, Oregonians in some of the state's most populous counties will be required to wear face masks when they are in public indoor spaces such as grocery stores and shops to help slow the spread of COVID-19.
Although the new requirement is set to go into effect in less than a week, it remains unclear what repercussions people face if they do not follow it.
“No, you won’t get arrested or get a ticket for not wearing a face covering,” Oregon Gov. Kate Brown said at a press conference Thursday. “However, this is a requirement and it is enforceable.”
The new face covering mandate pertains to residents in Clackamas, Hood River, Lincoln, Polk, Marion, Multnomah and Washington counties.
The seven counties were chosen based on population density, the spread of coronavirus and the vulnerability of the communities, Brown said.
However, any county not listed under this new face covering requirement may request to opt in at any time.
“As we learn more about the disease, evidence continues to mount that face coverings play a critical role in reducing transmission,” Brown said. “As we adapt with this disease, for the foreseeable future, face coverings need to become part of our daily lives.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
,Certain people will be exempt from having to wear a face mask, including children that are 12 or younger or someone with medical conditions where wearing a face covering hinders their ability to breath.
Officials said stores will be allowed to refuse entry if someone is not complying with the mandate.
However, when asked what law enforcement can do if someone refuses to wear mask, the governor replied that “all of my executive orders are enforceable by an active law," but did not provide any more details.
The governor reiterated that face coverings do not need to be medical grade, but rather can be sewn at home or as simple as wearing a bandanna.
The state is also working with counties to make face masks available for free as needed.
“I wear (a face mask) because I don’t want to accidentally kill someone. It’s really that simple," Brown said. “Face coverings can save lives.”
The new mandate comes as coronavirus cases continue to rise in the state.
As of Thursday, the total number of people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Oregon is 6,366. In addition, four more people died from the disease, raising the state’s death toll to 187.
More guidance about the new face covering requirement will be released next week, officials said.
Comments
Pedro
This is concerning to me because the science doesn't back the use of masks. The CDC was all for them and now they aren't and the same with WHO they give conflicting information. I've been reading Mayo clinic and Johns Hopkins information and JAMA and still can't conclude what they want us to do. I do know from all that reading that masks are statistically not beneficial.
Our family has made the choice individually about who wears masks and who doesn't but isn't that the way it should be for everyone?
Finch
You would think so.
tagup
Is wearing a mask that much of a burden?.....I don’t see a big downside to wearing a mask, and the upside is you might spare someone the illness......
tagup
By the way, both the CDC and the Mayo Clinic recommend the use of face covers along with maintaining social distance and washing hands...
tagup
As of April 6- the WHO states: “ Wearing a mask is one of the prevention measures that can limit the spread of certain respiratory viral diseases including COVID -19”.....
When the first 3 sources are quoted incorrectly, I think the credibility of the poster must be examined....
treefarmer
It is profoundly disheartening that the simple act of wearing a face covering to decrease the spread of a highly contagious disease has been perverted into some absurd political issue. Dear leader has stated he thinks this unassuming common sense measure is a way to “signal disapproval of him,” so it is no wonder that his faithful would view it that way.
Many thanks to my fellow citizens who make this small effort to protect each other. I appreciate your willingness to do the right thing, law or no law, and politics notwithstanding.
Jim
Just like every issue in this country right now wearing a mask has become political. The liberals are upset if you don’t follow them like sheep and the conservatives are digging in their heals to have anymore freedoms taken away. It will be interesting to see how it ends up.
GRM
I’m following European newspapers and tv interviews referring the Corona virus ( France, Germany, Netherlands, ) In one point all virologist agree. Masks help to reduce the dangerous aerosol. I don’t expect that we all wear masks outdoors But there are places where we should wear masks all the time. Supermarkets, Post Office. Places vulnerable people can’t avoid to go from time to time. So where is the problem for all of us to protect the elderly and at the same time ourselves.
madmacs
In countries that have a very high percentage of people wearing masks while out in public the infection rate has been dropping; in places that don't, it hasn't. The data speaks for itself. Even if you find a mask uncomfortable, the ventilator is going to be much, much worse.
Rotwang
I, for one, welcome our nanny-state overlords.
Lulu
People wearing masks should realize their voices transmit as muffled. Please speak up.
myopinion
China wears mask on a daily basis, WAY before Covid hit, didn't stop them from the pandemic. It won't help us either.