I am very concerned. I realize that Schuylkill County wanted to move to yellow against Gov Wolf’s orders. However, after my experiences over the past few weeks since masks became a requirement as well as at the Hometown auction today, it is a true validation of why we are not ready to do so.

You really need to publish a topic on “HOW to wear a mask.” I have seen so many people not wearing masks (it is understandable if they have a health issue that prevents them from wearing). Wearing only plastic face shields as face coverings and wearing masks only covering their mouths.

Do people truly understand the gravity of COVID-19? The national death rate is at 6%. This is a highly contagious respiratory illness. Transmission occurs through close contact, via nose as well as coughing and sneezing, which occurs through the mouth AND NOSE. There is no “herd immunity” with this disease; it does not care what your race, gender, etc. are, it will affect you. Do people understand that we cannot stop this freight train unless we use common sense?

Do they realize that these are reasons why it will continue to spread until it infects the entire population? Do they realize that the older adult populations who are most susceptible are dying because there is no cure? I really think that people need to truly understand this from firsthand accounts of families who lost loved ones and health care personnel working in masks for full shifts trying to care for the large numbers of infected people.

Thank you.

Louise Frantz

Andreas