HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210524_Wake_COVIDFrom:Tom Locke
To:Kendal WakeKendal Wake
Cc:Liz Anderson; Vicki Kirkpatrick
Subject:Re: face coverings
Date:Monday, May 24, 2021 12:40:37 PM
Thanks for your input, Kendal. Hopefully the greater freedoms that come with vaccination will
incentivize some who are vaccine hesitant but the polling data on this does not look good.
Very few of the unvaccinated say that decreased indoor restrictions will make them change
their minds. If not dying of COVID-19 is not enough of a personal benefit for someone, I don't
think getting to take your mask off in Safeway a month early will be one. Going into a public
place without a mask is still prohibited for the unvaccinated throughout the State. Businesses
who want to allow their customers to go unmasked need to verify vaccination status,
something that very few want to do. The net effect of the policy changes (enacted when
statewide rates are still quite high) is to allow unvaccinated adults to discard their masks and
expose children, the immunocompromised, and other unvaccinated people to potential
infection. There is also the matter of unvaccinated out-of-town visitors. Wearing a mask
indoors for another month is inconvenient. Getting COVID is far worse than an inconvenience.
Tom Locke, MD, MPH
Jefferson County Health Officer
From: Kendal Wake <kwake@olympicmedical.org>
Sent: Monday, May 24, 2021 10:22 AM
To: info@jeffersoncountypublichealth.org
Subject: face coverings
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when
opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
I understand wanting to be cautious but I think requiring face coverings is hurting the vaccination
efforts. I work in health care. I was excited and ready when I was offered the vaccine. My partner is
somewhat reluctant or on the fence regarding his vaccination. When the cdc came out and said you
did not have to wear face coverings he started asking me questions about my experience with the
vaccine. I asked him why all the questions all of a sudden. He said if I don’t have to wear a face
covering I am going to get vaccinated. He went on to say if my life is not going to improve I probably
would not get vaccinated. In other words requiring the wearing of a masks has been keeping him
from getting vaccinated. I do not think he is alone. The mantra from the State has been,
“vaccinated or not wear your mask”. They are starting to get it and have changed to encouraging
everyone to vaccinate, and nothing about masks. With 70% vaccinated in your county you should
relax your mask mandate. These poor business have had enough. If you won’t lighten up with 70%
vaccinated when will you? Lift the mask mandates and watch the vaccination compliance go way
up. Just know your restrictions are hurting business and vaccination compliance. thanks
Confidentiality Notice: This e-mail message, including any attachments, is for the sole use of
the intended individual(s) named above and may contain confidential, privileged, and/orprotected information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure, copying, or distribution of its
contents is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, you have received this email inerror. If so, please notify the sender immediately by reply email and delete/destroy the original
and all copies of this communication. Also know that Internet e-mail is not secure. In choosingto communicate with Olympic Medical Center by email you will assume these confidentiality
risks. Internet messages may become corrupted, incomplete, or may incorrectly identify thesender.