No Mask, No Service

You might start seeing these beautiful gems all over town. "No Mask, No Entry." If you haven't seen them yet, then you may soon. Counties in Florida are starting to recommend as a guideline for visitors and residents to start wearing those masks as they traverse the sunshine state.

I would know, I work in a store where we have to wear them. I live in a county where it is a recommendation in the main downtown area where all the shops, restaurants, and retail thrive on the old streets of Saint Augustine.

I wear a mask to protect my employer, her family, and her friends from catching this disease. I wear this mask to protect my husband from losing his job or any placement he wants to pursue. I wear this mask to protect the people I care about because even if they are young and healthy, the recurring pneumonia is enough to wear you down.

The coronavirus is a superbug, vaccines and antibiotics may not help with a superbug on this scale. The best thing is herd immunity and wearing protective clothing and barriers around our nose and mouth to ensure that no one else we love can get sick or die from this super novel virus. A superbug is a virus that has found a way to become resilient and cause more damage to the body. In medical terms, it is known as antimicrobial resistance. The best thing we can do is ensure the superbug dies out on its own.

Constitutional Rights

The mask does not violate your constitutional rights. It is simply a health code requirement in response to the coronavirus. While some people say it is like the flu or the cold, those whose immune systems are weaker have a much larger chance of ending up in the hospital or a coffin, or a mass grave. The choice to protect yourself or your family is your rights but for many health officials and daily workers such as city employees, janitors, and sanitation, they may not have that option.

If you go to business wear they require a mask, please wear it. There may be other reasons as to why. If you complain or argue your case that you shouldn't wear one, or that you can't because of some ludicrous reason such as carbon monoxide poisoning or claustrophobia, then just order your items online or stay outside. Be courteous and be nice, other people may hate wearing these, but you need to. Superbugs are from not taking all your antibiotics or holding onto an old stash of medicine. If you get sick, just take them all, don't skip them, things get worse that way.

We may have to face a new normal, wearing masks at restaurants, going grocery shopping, getting a car fixed, shopping for clothes, or crafts. It may be a year, two years, who knows. But better to be safe than sorry. When you wear a mask, think of who you are protecting. Maybe you want grandma to be around a little longer, maybe you want your dad to walk you down the aisle at your wedding in the near distant future. Everyone's plans have been put on hold, not just weddings and things that occur with gathering new family members or making new families. You may have plans to travel or have a honeymoon, but that doesn't mean you can explore your own country or city for those wonderful romantic getaways.

Wearing a mask may not be great, but it is vital to make sure this virus is nipped in the bud. While I may sound like I am repeating myself, I am. Masks save lives because all lives can be destroyed by something as tiny as a virus. Being at home sick does suck, but being healthy and proactive is enough to give some comfort.