I was very disturbed when I read the report on the mask debate in Olds town council Masks 'give you COVID-19' area resident tells Olds council.
I always thought good and ethical newspaper reporting should be non-biased. The bold title of this report screams bias. It should have read "Town council debates mask bylaw" or something similar. Furthermore you gave over two columns to the anti-maskers and only two, half columns to those in favour of masks.
Part of the problem I think, is that there was no apparent representative at council from Alberta Health Services who obtain their information from very credible sources. These sources are experts in communicable disease control and epidemiology (the study of how diseases spread) who have years and years of study and experience. It was very fortunate that Dr. Donszelmann, who has training in epidemiology, was present.
As a former public health nurse, I know the value of natural health services to teach about staying healthy including a good diet, exercise, vitamins, especially vitamin D, yoga, etc. I also know that natural health services is sometimes not enough in the medical world as in this case. I think there is room for both.
When making a good decision in anything, you should research both sides from credible sites. Facebook is not one of them. When it comes to masks it is interesting to note that surgeons, surgical nurses, isolation nurses, doctors of veterinary medicine and many more medical personal too numerous to mention have worn masks for years with no ill effect.
I for one have worn a mask many times as a nurse with no ill effects and continue to do so in this pandemic with no issues. Many people wear masks to protect themselves from paint, pesticides and wood dust etc. I have had conversations with paramedics who transport patients with masks while continuing to monitor their vital signs and found no drop in oxygen levels.
There are many compelling studies that centres for disease control have done in 198 countries that have adopted mask policies that show lower death rates from COVID. As well, studies show COVID rates drop as soon as five days after, in areas adopting a mask policy.
Council left it up to the people to decide. Please inform yourself before making your decision. Our health system is in crisis and our front-line health-care workers are very stressed and exhausted and becoming overwhelmed. We do not have an unlimited amount of trained professionals to work in our hospital and intensive care units. We can create beds but we can’t create people.
Arlene Ritchie,
Olds
