Mask Confusion

Earlier this week, former Mayor Bill Paparian called on Mayor Terry Tornek and City Manager Steve Mermell to require all local residents to wear masks when outdoors.

The move follows a call from officials in Riverside calling on local residents to wear masks.

Similar requests were made on Wednesday when officials with the county and Los Angeles called on residents to wear protective covering over their faces without depleting surgical masks needed for healthcare workers.

“We need to order this in Pasadena ASAP,” Paparian said in an email to Mermell and Tornek.

“And please, don’t hit me with the efficacy of face masks.

Of course, other safety measures such as social distancing and frequent hand washing work.  But face masks are proven to be effective. And don’t say that the face masks have to go to hospitals and first responders and not the public.  If a Pasadena resident wants to go out in public they are going to have to wear a mask.  They can be found online. Don’t wait for LA County or LA City or the State of California. Pasadena has always been a leader.”

The call for masks matches a Centers for Disease Control recommendation that everyone cover their face when they go out in public.

The call is an about face from earlier recommendations that people not wear masks.

Some experts say the new guidance is driven by the high rates of people with coronavirus who are asymptomatic and don’t realize they have COVID-19 and are likely to go out and not maintain social distancing standards.

“They knew or should have known that masks are an essential ingredient in preventative [action] including frequent hand washing and social distancing,” Paparian said. “I’m not sure why until now they didn’t make it part of the preventative measures

and don’t want to speculate.”

In February, the Trump Administration sent tons of equipment to China, according to a statement on the state department’s website.

“This week the State Department has facilitated the transportation of nearly 17.8 tons of donated medical supplies to the Chinese people, including masks, gowns, gauze, respirators, and other vital materials. These donations are a testament to the generosity of the American people.”

Shortly after that Trump began blaming former administrations for the lack of supplies and preparedness for fighting the virus.

The call for more protective facial gear comes as health officials now admit the virus can be spread through breathing and talking.

Mayor Eric Garcetti called on all 4 million of Los Angeles residents to wear face covering when out in public.

“Homemade cloth masks, or even a tucked-in bandanna, will help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the nation’s second-largest city and remind people to practice safe social distancing,” Garcetti said Wednesday as he donned a black cloth mask to make his point.

“I know this looks surreal,” Garcetti said. “We’re going to have to get used to seeing each other like this. … This will be the look.”

Garcetti urged people not to use medical-grade masks, such as N95 or surgical masks, which are in short supply and needed for health care workers and first responders.

Pasadena has sought to stay in line with the county and the city of Los Angeles.

On March 3, Surgeon General Dr. Jerome Adams said masks did not help in preventing the spread of the virus.

“Seriously people- STOP BUYING MASKS!” he tweeted.

“They are NOT effective in preventing general public from catching #Coronavirus, but if healthcare providers can’t get them to care for sick patients, it puts them and our communities at risk!”

Others said they never believed the Surgeon General and others when they attempted to convince people not to buy masks.

“I didn’t believe what they had to say from the beginning,” said Ronald Bondal, a master technician for a cable and internet company. “If these masks are good enough to be used by hospital staff and other medical personnel for protection against catching or spreading sickness then why wouldnt they be good enough for everyone else?”

LA County Health Director Barbara Ferrer echoed new guidance that people with the virus can potentially spread it 48 hours before they show any symptoms, and said “there may be a benefit” for people to wear a mask when going out in public.

Ferrer stressed that residents should not be buying surgical or high- tech N95 masks that are desperately needed by health-care providers, but can instead use items such as scarves, bandannas or fabric. She said people may benefit by wearing a “homemade” mask.

“What they do is they can prevent droplets from coming out of our mouths and potentially infecting others,” she said. “Remember this is a disease that’s spread with respiratory droplets. Sometimes when you talk, some droplets can come out. If you wear that mask, especially now that we know you could be spreading even if you have no symptoms, you would reduce the number of droplets carrying a virus, potentially, from getting onto somebody else.

“But wearing a mask is not a shield, and it doesn’t replace our request that you stay at home, that you always are practicing social distancing that you’re using handwashing as your major means to make sure you’re not infecting yourself after touching something or someone who may be infected, and that you’re self-isolating and self-quarantined when it’s appropriate.

“It’s just another tool that we can add to our list of tools that are available to help us to prevent infecting others and help others from (infecting) us.”

In the end for some masks are simply a matter of common sense.

“I have to go into people’s homes every day to provide them with services and if they are sick, I need to use a mask to protect myself when I’m in their homes,” Bonald said. “There are times when I’ve had to reschedule appointments because the client was sick and I didn’t think that it was safe for me to be there. They usually understand, especially now with the coronavirus spreading like it is.

“I have a 4 year old daughter at home and my wife who has a compromised respiratory system from past illnesses. I have to look out for them, and by having a mask on I’m ensuring that I’m able to continue to come home to them and be able to go back to work every day.”