6 • July 24 - 25, 2020 OPINION By: Gary J. Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull The argument will be in bold type with The Ole Seagulls opinion directly following: 1. The science is bad; masking doesn’t help stop the spread COVID-19 from one person to another. Kim Rohde Publisher (417) 872-2951 lkimrohde@yahoo.com Brenda Meadows Editor & Staff Writer (417) 231-7601 info@BransonGlobe.com David Stoltz News Correspondent (228) 355-2900 itcdls@gmail.com Gary Groman, a.k.a. The Ole Seagull Columnist Emeritus KD Michaels Staff Writer (417) 251-2776 kdmichaelsbranson1@gmail.com Rob Doherty Account Representative & Distribution Manager (504) 583-8907 robd@bransonglobe.com Karen Halfpop Digital/Production Director production@ BransonGlobe.com Submit a letter to the editor: Letters to the editor that are sent via e-mail and are fewer than 400 words are given preference. Published or unpublished letters become the property of the newspaper and will not be returned. All letters must include name, address, and verifiable phone number. The Mayo Clinic, CDC, WHO, Cox Medical Center, and the Taney County Health Department are among those recommending “the consistent and correct use of face coverings as an important tool for minimizing the spread of COVID-19.” What little the Ole Seagull knows he knows well but, unfortunately, that is vastly surpassed by what he doesn’t LETTERS Being retired medical professionals we have an intense interest in how our government handles medical issues that affect us. Research is in our bloodstream and with internet it is so much easier than most of our past experiences. As employers in the medical field employees working environment was of utmost importance for a happy pleasant workplace. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) is a long standing government agency who is responsible for every employee in the USA. Employers are required to instruct employees that they have the right to file a complaint with federal government regarding any problems in their workplace and the first substantiated offense is followed with a $75,000 fine. As an employer you must post a large notice to employees from OSHA that gives 800 telephone number for employees to file against them! We were fortunate to never have a problem we couldn’t solve. This may not be so in today’s business environment in that OSHA has regulation that requires testing of employees breathing and selecting the type of mask needed for the environment the employee will be working in. I have worked as an OR nurse. Operating suites have special airflow control and extra oxygen that flows into these systems. This kind of planning comes into play when new facilities or remodeling of OR suites occur. All the result of protecting employees. My question: What is your liability as an individual or as a board of Branson city government for putting forth a mask ordinance requiring all persons to wear masks in all public areas (both indoors and outdoors) in businesses in Branson? Are you as a board prepared to pay a fine and legal fees for any business who is challenged by an employee in the city of Branson?? By the way Nixa’s governing body voted 6-0 for a no mask mandate in its city this week. Dr. Jerry Ozee Shirley Ozee, RN (The comments on these pages are the opinions of the writer, and not necessarily those of Branson Globe, or its staff. Want to weigh-in? Have something to say? Share it with us in your own Letter to the Editor. See submission guidelines in lower left corner of page 6.) BransonGlobe Your source for local news and entertainment Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances. info@BransonGlobe.com • Phone: (417) 334-9100 • Fax: (417) 334-3767 • 1447 US Hwy. 248, Suite EE, Branson, MO 65616 BransonGlobe.com Gary Groman. (FILE) know. When he has to deal with that which he doesn’t know, be it cars, electronics, tv, or medical, he relies on those who know. In the case of COVID-19, he relies on medical and health professionals. However, let’s say the medical evidence is all wrong; face coverings don’t prevent the spread of COVID-19. Who is hurt by wearing one? On the other hand, if the evidence that face coverings help prevent the spread of COVID-19 is right, how many can be harmed by not wearing one. 2. The cure is worse than the disease. You can eliminate all auto accident deaths by prohibiting people from driving, but we don’t. We don’t because driving on our highways is an integral bransonglobe.com Good arguments against mandatory COVID-19 masking? part of most of our daily lives. Driving laws and regulations provide a level of safety while driving that drastically reduces the chances of accidents and death. However, they only work if people comply with them. Don’t the vast majority of motor vehicle deaths occur because one or more people failed to comply with the very laws designed to enable safe driving? It’s the same with COVID-19. Health and safety laws provide a way for people to live their daily lives without a “stay at home order’ or “shutdowns.” While not perfect, mandatory masking is a vital tool in preventing the spread of the disease from one SEE OPINION, PAGE 7 @BransonGlobe BransonGlobe @BransonGlobe #Branson Globe
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