Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, came to Alabama this week and praised the COVID-19 response of Auburn University and the Yellowhammer State at-large.
Birx has also previously lauded the University of Alabama System’s “strong leadership” in combatting the virus.
During her Thursday visit, she suggested Governor Kay Ivey should extend Alabama’s mask order that ends on October 2, adding, “If you look at what happened within two weeks of the mask mandate, you can see the dramatic decline in cases here in Alabama.”
She is 100% correct. Whether the masks are solely responsible for that decline is irrelevant, but a recent study shows that the masks play a big role in lowering the severity of the virus and its ability to spread to both the wearer and others.
A recent theory by Monica Gandhi, M.D., published in the New England Journal of Medicine suggests the amount of virus you interact with could impact both the severity of the illness and the ability to spread the virus.
Gandhi explained, “This is true of respiratory viruses, gastrointestinal viruses — eating a ‘bowl of norovirus,’ you’re going to get more sick if you have it ‘sprinkled on your salad.’”
If true, the masks offer protection by keeping droplets from spreading.
There is no doubt that we have seen a marked decrease in coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths as the masks have gone on, with cases and deaths down by over 50%.
The graphs from BamaTracker.com show this:
Some will argue that they didn’t do anything. That is a fine argument to make, but this is not debate class.
Americans want more things open. Since the masks have been required in big box stores and indoor settings, we have seen schools open, football games played and a small sense of normalcy return.
Governor Ivey should see all of this as amazingly positive news and extend the mask order further as we continue to grapple with the virus and its impact on our society.
The current mask order expires on October 2. Hopefully, she expands it further.
Dale Jackson is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts a talk show from 7-11 AM weekdays on WVNN.
