Page 8 THE MALDEN ADVOCATE–Friday, April 24, 2020 Health officials hope to mask the problem By Barbara Taormina n early March, public health officials advised people not to bother with face masks which were really meant for health care workers and which wouldn’t do much to protect against the novel coronavirus. This week, the Malden Board of Health and public health officials in surrounding cities and towns issued new rules requiring face masks for employees and cusI tomers at essential businesses. “Any employee of an essential services establishment has to wear a mask, face covering, bandana, cloth mask, whatever is typically acceptable,” said Malden Public Health Director Chris Webb during Mayor Gary Christenson’s weekly COVID-19 update streamed on Malden Access TV. “Employers have to let them use what’s available,” added Webb. “It may not look as professional, but it’s better than nothing.” The new Board of Health order also requires members of the public to wear a face mask, scarf or bandana that covers their nose and mouth whenever they enter essential businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and home improvement stores, and also when they are picking up takeout from a restaurant. “Most people were already doing something like that, and most thought they should have been,” said Webb. One viewer called in to ask if city parks could reopen if people wore masks and kept up with physical distancing. Capt. Glenn Cronin, director of Malden’s Emergency Management Department, said it would be hard to keep crowds from gathering at the city’s 30 parks. “I think it might be the wrong thing to do,” said Cronin, who also took part in this week’s COVID-19 update. “We’re fighting this virus and we’re moving in the right direction. I don’t want to make any wrong turns.” Another resident called in to ask if the City of Malden could provide face masks to residents. Cronin said there is still a shortage of face masks and the City has been distributing its supply among first responders and senior care homes. Webb said the homemade face masks are great and people can cover their mouth and nose with anything, even a pulled-up T-shirt. Another caller asked about the conflicting advice on face masks. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said there is no evidence that face masks provide any benefits, and the misuse of face masks can potentially lead to contracting the virus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) originally agreed with the WHO but is now advising everyone to wear a cloth mask in a public setting where it is hard to maintain six feet of distance from others. The CDC’s change of heart on masks reflects the growing evidence that a large slice of the population is made up of asymptomatic carriers of the virus. The primary purpose of masks is to prevent unsuspecting carriers from unknowingly spreading the virus to others. As for face mask misuse, Webb said that face masks have a particular method of donning and doffing (a set of Middle English contractions for do on and do off and one of the better entries in the new COVID-19 lexicon). “Do the best you can,” said Webb. “But you should not take off a mask and flip it in someone else’s direction. Just turn away, drop the mask off low and throw it away.” According to Webb, a face mask is good for one trip to a grocery store, and on average people should have a new face mask every day. Cronin was asked if he thought the police should enforce the new order and demand people wear face masks. “It’s almost unenforceable,” said Cronin. “For us to run up to everyone we see without a mask would be impossible. And there’s no law where I can say, ‘Put that on.’” Christenson said the hope is that a sense of personal responsibility rather than enforcement will convince people to comply with the new order on face masks and other measures to prevent the spread of the virus. “We hope that as more people learn what’s happening, they will do what’s necessary,” he said, adding, as he has in the past, that the COVID-19 crisis is a marathon not a sprint. “We just have to work together to get through it, and we will,” he said. Despite COVID-19 challenges, police work continues Police seek public’s help to identify robbery suspect D o you know this individual? Revere Police are seeking the public’s help in identifying this man in the photo for alleged armed robbery and armed assault by knife. On Friday, April 17, 2020, the suspect arrived by bicycle and entered EZ Liquors at 750 Washington Ave. in Revere. Reportedly, an unprovoked attack by knife occurred on the store employee, and the suspect then demanded money and took several alcohol nips. The employee was transported to the hospital and was expected to be okay. The words “safety first” are on the back of his sweatshirt. Any info – call 781-656-1116 ext. 60348 or 781-284-1212, press 0 – can also email jgibson@ reverepolice.org. Photos courtesy of Revere Police Dept. WE WORK FOR YOU! * Have your car repaired by Real Manufacturer Certiified Technicians * An I-CAR GOLD CLASS SHOP Highest Certificate in the Repair Industry * Premier Insurance Co. Collision Repair Shop for Geico, Liberty Mutual, Metlife, Progressive and more! * Over 30 Years of putting families back on the Road Safe & Fast! * ATLAS Stands Behind All Repairs with a Limited Lifetime Warranty 1605 North Shore Road, Revere * 781-284-1200 Visit us at: www.AtlasAutobody.com or call (781) 284-1200 to schedule your appointment today!
9 Publizr Home