Two Idaho doctors groups call on Gov. Little to issue statewide mask mandate
Listen to your doctor.
Two Idaho organizations affiliated with doctors have written letters calling on Gov. Brad Little and his COVID-19 task force to issue a statewide mask mandate.
The letters, shared with the Idaho Statesman and other media outlets over the weekend, come from the Idaho chapter of the American College of Physicians and the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians.
“Like you, we are concerned about the rising numbers of cases in our state,” according to the letter from the Idaho Chapter of the American College of Physicians sent to the governor and the COVID-19 task force. “We are alarmed at the effect the pandemic is having on the physical and (emotional) health of Idahoans. In addition to the devastating effects of COVID on the body itself, we are also concerned about the rise in mental illness such as depression and substance abuse. We must address the spread of this infection.”
Among the organization’s recommendations is a “statewide mandatory wearing of surgical or cloth masks in community settings when physical distancing is not possible.”
“ACP supports wearing surgical or cloth masks by the public in community settings when physical distancing is not possible, and believes that authorities may appropriately require it as a component of a comprehensive public health strategy to prevent and contain the spread of COVID-19,” according to the letter. “The strategy should also incorporate physical distancing, education about appropriate mask use (e.g., types of face coverings, application, safe use, and disposal), promotion of preventive hygiene protocols, and widespread diagnostic testing and contact tracing.”
In addition, the group advocates for continued support of Medicaid funding, expansion of testing to include those who are asymptomatic, and continued statewide education on social distancing and hygiene.
Meanwhile, the Idaho Academy of Family Physicians has written its own guest op-ed on behalf of its executive board. In it, executive board members also call for a statewide mask mandate.
“We also support a statewide mandate for mask wearing, rather than just isolating it to hot spots, since we know that rural areas in Idaho also have the lowest amount of health care resources,” according to the op-ed. “There is no question that masks are uncomfortable to wear. But that discomfort pales in comparison to the impact we can make on COVID-19. To put it bluntly, wearing a mask is a better option than needing a ventilator.”
The Idaho Academy of Family Physicians is a nonprofit organization representing hundreds of family physicians across Idaho. Its mission is to advocate for Idaho family physicians and their patients.
The guest op-ed is signed by its board of directors: Cher Jacobsen, Suzanna Hubele, Mary Barinaga, Boyd Southwick, Ted Epperly (a Central District Health board member), and Angie Devitt.
“Our state has made national news in recent weeks because our increase in cases is among the highest in the country,” the authors write. “It is no accident that this increase coincides with the lifting of restrictions rightly put in place by Governor Little. COVID-19 is spreading like wildfire in Idaho, putting essential workers at risk, complicating our ability to send our children to school, and further straining our economy. More has to be done to control this virus and we call on all Idahoans to help.”
More than 70 physicians from around the state signed the letter from the Idaho chapter of the American College Physicians, which is a society of internal medicine specialists and subspecialists. It is the largest medical specialty society in the world, with 163,000 members.
If we don’t listen to our doctors, to whom will we listen?
