I am a mask wearer and did so in public before it was recommended by the CDC. Of course, I am not a doctor or scientist and always defer to their expertise if I'm looking for answers on what to do in the face of this international health crisis. But I had an instinct that wearing a mask could significantly reduce the risk of infection after I did an extensive reading from multiple sources.

Some still think the pandemic is a hoax or exaggerated, but it's more than real and it is better to sacrifice instant gratification (like putting up with the discomfort of wearing a mask or staying at least 6 feet away from others) for the greater good. 

When Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said mask-wearing was really not necessary at the beginning of the outbreak months ago, that was confusing. At that time, he said its only benefit was it made people feel better.

This point of view was echoed by U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams, who in February tweeted, "STOP BUYING MASKS." Part of the rationale for the experts' perspective was that health care providers could not access enough PPE (personal protection equipment).

Mixed messaged abounded so it did get convoluted. However, since then, a lot more information has come out, and now both Fauci and Adams, along with the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) and WHO (World Health Organization), strongly recommend people mask up in public settings at all times, especially those with underlying health conditions, over age 60 and when social distancing is not possible.

How much can wearing a mask make a difference? Dean Blumberg, Chief of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at UC Davis Children's Hospital, said studies support putting on a mask could reduce your rate of infection by 65%.

The novel coronavirus can be transmitted through droplets from coughing or sneezing. The droplets are minuscule, around a third the width of a human hair, but a mask provides a barrier so those drops don't get into your nose or mouth. For the same reason, wearing goggles or glasses would be a good choice to help prevent viral spread. 

Another path of transmission is aerosol particles through speech. A mask forms a barrier so these minuscule particles can't travel into your system. Being outside mitigates this because of higher airflow and of course, social distancing is crucial, too.

So, why the resistance? Recent explosions of anger against an Oakland McDonalds employee and MTA workers by NYC bus riders yesterday highlight the need for stricter crackdowns on this type of violence. 

I say if you don't want to wear a mask, be sure to stay far away from any other person you could not only infect, but kill. "Super spreaders" of COVID 19 have no symptoms. How would you feel if a mask-less person infected and killed your loved one? It's not just about you or me. It's about the greater good.