IN THE INTEREST OF PROTECTING OUR COMMUNITY AND MINIMIZING THE TRANSMISSION OF COVID-19, THIS
OP-ED WAS PUBLISHED IN THE COURIER-JOURNAL ON JULY 30, 2020 IN COLLABORATION WITH THE FALLS
CITY MEDICAL SOCIETY AND THE BOARD OF HEALTH URGING THE PUBLIC TO WEAR MASKS.
LOUISVILLE DOCTORS: WEAR A MASK. 'THIS VIRUS IS
MEAN. WE DON'T WANT YOU TO GET IT'
AUTHORS Monalisa Tailor, MD, Lewis Hargett, MD and Heidi Marguilis
Recently, the physicians of the Greater Louisville Medical
Society, the Falls City Medical Society and local community
leaders on the Louisville Metro Board of Health
reached out to our members to get their thoughts on our
state’s mask mandate. Dr. Monalisa Tailor spoke eloquently
for all of us:
I ask every patient I see the same question: “How are
you doing with everything going on right now?”
Some will tell me about working from home, the struggles of
remote education and then share their thoughts about the virus.
Some folks say they have been staying home taking precautions.
Others will share that they do not know why events and activities
have been canceled or put on hold. The folks who are taking
precautions are typically the ones who know someone who was
affected by COVID19. The folks who think it is overblown usually
do not know anyone who has had it and don’t understand the need
to wear masks. Then they ask, “Have you seen it?”
There is a pause. With a serious look, I reply, “Yes, I have seen it.”
I have taken care of patients who have this virus. It does not care
what you look like, how old you are, or what you do. It just wants a
host. If it can find any opportunity, the virus will take it.
Simply put, being in crowded areas with other people encourages
the virus to spread. This is why physical distancing and masks are so
important. It helps prevent the virus from having a host.
Unlike other viruses that we know well, patients can have
COVID-19 and not realize it because they might not have any symptoms.
But the virus will use those opportunities to get passed on to
someone else.
This is why there was confusion at the start of the pandemic about
whether or not masks were needed. By the time the virus showed
up at our doorstep, we did not understand that it already had a head
start by a few months.
If the virus chooses to cause you symptoms, the initial aspects
are subtle: fatigue, fever, chills, loss of smell/taste then progressing
to cough and shortness of breath. One patient described it as having
pneumonia, flu and mono all at the same time.
Another patient experienced shortness of breath simply getting
dressed for her appointment with me. The worst part my patients
tell me, is feeling like they are unable to breathe at night.
Most patients manage these symptoms at home and are able to get
through it, but 20% end up in the hospital. Another patient of mine
was in the hospital for over a month, then spent two months in rehab.
They were lucky. They survived. Other patients never made it home.
This virus is mean. We do not want you to get it. It is difficult,
and we do not want you to go through it. Right now, we have no
treatments or vaccines to combat it. The best measures we have to
reduce the spread of the virus are simple: limiting our trips out and
the people we’re around, staying 6 feet from others when we are out,
hand-washing and always wearing a mask.
The British journal Lancet recently compared approximately 30
studies on the use of masks. Study results showed that the group
who wore masks saw a significant reduction in the risk of infection
compared to those who did not wear masks. This is essential for us
right now as cases are significantly expanding in our areas.
A mask can be a nonsurgical disposable mask or a cotton mask
with at least two, hopefully three layers to help protect you. I have
seen patients with masks representing their favorite themes, teams
or patterns. Kids are even expressing themselves with fun, colorful
masks. One even came in with a mask that lights up. Fun is not
canceled! Put your personality into your face coverings. Make your
mask a fashion accessory.
As the president of the Greater Louisville Medical Society, joined
by my colleagues in the Falls City Medical Society and the Louisville
Metro Board of Health, we urge you to do everything you can to
stay healthy. We would rather see you healthy at home or work than
sick and in the hospital.
Please limit where you go and who you’re around, wash your
hands and wear a mask. Masks can help us prevent the spread, but
we have to wear them. It’s better to be uncomfortable with a mask
on than to be uncomfortable on a ventilator gasping for your life.
Dr. Monalisa Tailor is President of the Greater Louisville Medical Society. Dr. Lewis
Hargett is President of Falls City Medical Society, and Heidi Marguilis is Chair of the
Louisville Metro Board of Health.