Coronavirus: To wear a mask or not to wear a mask? That is the question some are asking – Journal & Courier

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Emily Stillman, left, talks about mask wearing, as she and Thomas Ilyevsky walk down Main Street, Thursday, May 7, 2020 in Lafayette.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

LAFAYETTE Face masks. Necessary coronavirus pandemic attire or justa suggestion?

We always try to wear a mask when were out in a closed area," Emily Stillman said as she and Thomas Ilyevsky both of whom are in the mid-20s enjoyed a walk Thursday afternoonin downtown Lafayette without their masks.

But when we go out and walk, we always try to cross the street before we see anybody. We always try to avoid people as were out walking," Stillman said.Anytime we go to the grocery store, well have a mask on."

Technically, Indiana's Back on Trackplan onlyrecommends face masks for people when social distancing is difficult, such as in grocery stores, although some businesses require customers to don face masks in order to enter the store.

Michael Greenan of Lafayette looks through a book while shopping at Von's Shops, Monday, May 4, 2020 in West Lafayette. (Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

Starting June 14, the masks for the public are optional, according tothe governor's five-phase plan.

Certain employees restaurant servers and staff, gym employees and hair dressers will be required to wear face masks when they open either Monday or on May 24.

Most of the people out and about in downtown Lafayette in Thursday's sunshine and spring temperatures chose not to wear masks. A few did.

Two other twenty-somethings Andrew Sanders and Lucy Doyle strolled around downtown Thursday without masks.

Were not really around people. Open space," Doyle said when asked why they chose not to wear a mask during theirwalk. "Everybodys being cautious staying away from each other.

But do they wear a mask to the grocery store?

She encourages me to do it, Sanders said, hinting he's not as serious about mask wearing as Doyle.

Yeah. We do, Doyle said, more firm in her convictions.

Sanders confessed the reason for his relaxed attitude about wearing a face mask.

I feel like Im pretty healthy and wouldnt have a problem with it, honestly, Sanders said of catching the virus.But if I was around older people ... Id put it on.

Most conronavirus deaths are in people who have underlying health conditions and tend to be older, according to statistics compiled by the Indiana State Department of Health.

Im a little more cautious because I have asthma, Doyle said.

When the pandemic started in March,the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initially did not recommend faces masks for everyone. The logic, repeated early on by Tippecanoe County Health Department officials: Masks gave a false sense of security about blocking the virus. There also were concerns about people hoarding medical masks.

But in mid-April, theCDC amended its recommendation, stating that the public should wear a cloth covering over their faces when in confined areas where social distancing is challenging. The reason: Masks help prevent a person from spreading coronavirus when in close quarters.

Shyanna Herubin, talks about masks for her and her 4-year-old triplets, Carson, Norah and Raylan McCloskey, Thursday, May 7, 2020 in Lafayette.(Photo: Nikos Frazier | Journal & Courier)

The change in recommendations causedShyanna Herubin, 26, to abide by the earlier recommendation.

"I just feel like they say it doesnt do anything," she said, "and then they say you should (wear a mask). I just decide not to.

I guess I dont really have a good reason," she said about not wearing a mask.I worry about it. I think about it. It gives me anxiety."

She washes and sanitizes her hands and takes precautions to avoid public places during high-traffic hours, as well as social distance when she and her 4-year-old triplets arein public areas during their family walks.

I guess I feel whatevers going to happen is going to happen, she said.

Lafayette Mayor Tony Roswarski stressed wearing a mask during Wednesday's community briefing with the health department.

That becomes a very important piece of our line of defense here," Roswarski said.

As we open up and there is more potential interaction, were going to have to work harder ...to make sure that we keep this under control, (that) we dont overwhelm our health care facilities and we allow this to continue in a way thats safe.

Dr. Daniel Wickert, vice president of medical affairs at Franciscan Health Lafayette, took time during an April 15 community briefing to inform people how to safely wear a mask.

The challenge is that most individuals are not used to wearing masks for any period of time, so what they tend to do is fuss with it or manipulate it," Wickert said last month.

Recognize where is it potentially contaminated? Its on the outside of the mask, he said.

Every time peopletouchtheir mask orreadjusttheir mask, they risk contaminating themselves with whatever germs or virus is on the outside of the mask, Wickert said.

Every time I touch my mask, I would need to wash my hands or use a disinfectant, he said.

Those wearing masks also risk contamination when they remove their mask and touch the outside of it, he noted.

For those who hang the mask from one ear or from a pin in a pocket like a Christmas ornament,that also increases the likelihood of contamination.

Wearing a mask is important. Wearing it incorrectly does not protect us to the degree that we could, WIckert said last month.

Stillman andIlyevsky said they plan to continue to wear their face masks.

Stillman said she has no idea how long that will be.

As long as the curve stays flat for a while, Ilyevskysaid of his metric of when to put the masks away.

Reach Ron Wilkins at 765-420-5231 or at rwilkins@jconline.com. Follow on Twitter: @RonWilkins2.

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Coronavirus: To wear a mask or not to wear a mask? That is the question some are asking - Journal & Courier