Make masks mandatory to fight COVID-19 in Sacramento, but don’t forget the homeless

Masks can help save lives. That’s why Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg is right to call on Sacramento County residents to embrace the wearing of simple cloth masks in public places to help stop the spread of COVID-19. On Monday, Steinberg called for the county to embrace a mandatory mask rule.

“I believe that a mandatory mask requirement ought to accompany that opening up because it will allow us to open up faster – and maybe more importantly – it will allow us to continue to be open and to not have that spike, which we are also fearful of, which we have thus far successfully avoided,” Steinberg said.

This makes sense, but not everyone in our community has access to the money or resources needed to obtain masks. Any push for mandatory masks must consider the plight of the homeless, who must either be provided with free masks or exempted from the rules if they lack the resources to buy or make them.

“We’re gonna have to work on this part, obviously, because a requirement wouldn’t be fair or meaningful if not everyone has a mask,” said Steinberg.

Though Sacramento has flattened the curve and is beating the odds, COVID-19 continues to kill thousands of Americans every day. The death toll in the United States now exceeds 71,000, with at least 2,379 deaths in California so far. If we ease up too soon and infections spike, we will undo all of our work to beat the virus.

That’s why masks are important. Some Sacramento residents have already started wearing masks because they can help prevent the transmission of the novel coronavirus between people. Simple cloth masks - often homemade or fashioned out of bandannas - have become a regular sight in grocery stores, restaurant pickup counters and parks. Some stores have even started to require them.

The virus that causes COVID-19 is spread by droplets and aerosols that emanate from the mouth and nose. By wearing masks, we may be able to help decrease the spread of infection, according to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That’s why many California counties, including Yolo, have already taken the precaution of making them mandatory in public places.

As California enters the second phase of the COVID-19 emergency, we must all take steps to avoid causing a spike in the infection rate as health officials begin to ease the strict measures that have shut down much of the economy to save lives. Frequent handwashing and physical distancing have become normal parts of our lives. Now, as health officials begin to ease some restrictions, we must embrace masks to protect ourselves and our families.

To be clear, we’re talking about simple cloth masks that can be made at home or fashioned out old t-shirts and bandannas. Medical grade surgical and N95 masks are not recommended and should be saved for medical professionals working with infected patients.

Masks do not guarantee protection from COVID-19 but – along with handwashing, physical distancing and other smart measures – they can help slow the virus’ spread. Masking up to shop or stroll in the park may seem inconvenient, but it could save lives, including yours.