This is an open letter expressing a few of the many reasons why there should not be mask mandates for North Carolina citizens. It is our hope that you will download this letter and send it to everyone you deem necessary (local officials, public health committees, county commissioners, school boards, local newspapers, medical staff, etc.) Also please consider sharing this information on your social media. THIS LETTER HAS BEEN SENT TO ALL 170 NORTH CAROLINA SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES.
North Carolina citizens, children and adults, are being told to wear a mask whenever they are around others. I am concerned that masks are also a source of risk that needs to be weighed in contrast to their limited benefit. I ask that you preserve our right to choose whether to wear masks.
The New England Journal of Medicine states that, "Outside of a medical setting, the wearing of masks provides little, if any, protection against the transmission of disease."
Experts have outlined numerous reasons that masks could actually increase the risk of infection. They allow germs to concentrate on the mask and increase the number of times people touch their face. One large study found that moisture retention, reuse of cloth masks, and poor filtration may result in increased risk of infection in health care workers wearing cloth masks.
Masks reduce oxygen and increase the risk of carbon dioxide toxicity. This is particularly concerning for people with asthma, COPD, and other respiratory issues.
Wearing a mask for long periods of time and trying to communicate with others is difficult. Adults and children alike may have difficulty interpreting facial expressions and being heard when masks are in use.
The choice to wear a mask is a personal one, and masks should not be mandated by either government or private entities. In addition, health departments should make the public aware of the risks and limitations of masks.