On Mandates and Public Health

Yesterday the Provo City Council passed an ordinance requiring masks in certain public settings. Tomorrow the Provo City Mayor is expected to veto the ordinance and the Council plans to convene to consider overriding the veto.

If you have any questions about what is or isn't in the "mask mandate", please read this FAQ, published by the Council Office.

Here are four thoughts for the occasion.

i. Time to Walk the Talk

I hear many in our community talk about respecting differences of opinion. It is easy to say that we can disagree with civility and respect. It is harder to actually do so in the midst of heated community debate. Now is the time for us to hold ourselves to the high ideal. We have heard from thousands of you, each with strong opinions on the best course of action for the city. Some feel strongly that any law requiring masks in public is an unconstitutional overreach and an attack on our freedoms. Others feel just as strongly such a mandate is squarely in the Council's role "to provide for the safety and preserve the health...of the city and its inhabitants" and that inaction will lead to needless death. Councilors have pretty thick skin; we can take the criticism. It pains me, though, when I see stewing animosity in the community. I ask everyone to try to be more understanding and give people the benefit of the doubt. People have different perspectives and may come to different conclusions than you. That doesn't necessarily mean that they are evil or bad people. The middle of a debate may be the hardest time to love one another, but it is also when it is needed the most.

ii. For Schools, For the Economy, For Fun

The City has joined with the State and many trusted institutions like Intermountain Healthcare to encourage the public to be vigilant in following the health guidelines to protect ourselves and others during the pandemic.

Much has been said about how following these guidelines give us the best chance to keep our schools and our economy open. It struck me yesterday, during all the talk of gatherings, parties, picnics, and recreating, that these guidelines can also help keep us safe while socializing and give us the best chance to keep these opportunities to socialize. Enjoy the party, but please do so responsibly.

iii. Mask Mandates are like Speed Limits

Many have argued that wearing masks should be an individual decision and that the government should trust people to do what is right. Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone in the community just chose to follow the guidelines given by our federal and state public health officials? Wouldn't it also be wonderful if everyone in the community drove at a safe speed on our roads for their own safety and the safety of those around them? As nice as that would be, we still have speed limits that communicate to drivers the community expectation for speed and provide penalties if they are caught exceeding the lawful limit. Likewise, a mask mandate communicates to people entering our public spaces what the community expectations are for masking and social distancing and provides penalties if they are caught ignoring the law. 

Another complaint that I have heard is that mask mandates take away freedom. And it does in a sense; in the same sense that speed limits take away freedom. People can still choose to follow the mandate just as they can choose whether or not to follow the speed limit. Also, people can choose to not drive on public roads. Likewise, people can choose to not go to public spaces. I understand that this would be difficult (but not impossible). Our public spaces provide so many conveniences and opportunities for us that it would be hard not to use them. But that is exactly why it is so important to set reasonable expectations for behaviors in our public spaces to protect the health of everyone who chooses to use these public spaces.

iv. No, Wait, Mask Mandates are like Seat Belt Laws...Sort Of

One Utah County Commissioner compared mask mandates to seat-belt rules. In some ways, it is an apt comparison. Most safety experts recommend wearing one. Wearing a seatbelt is not particularly comfortable. It is inconvenient and sometimes annoying. And 99.99% of the time (not an actual statistic) you would be perfectly fine not wearing one. You could finish almost every day by looking back and saying, "See? I didn't wear a seatbelt today and I'm perfectly fine, that whole seatbelt craze is just stupid and doesn't work."

I personally have worn a seatbelt my entire adult life and have never "needed" it. Same with my wife...she has never "needed" it except for that one time when she was in a rollover crash. My kids sure are grateful that she was wearing a seatbelt; they wouldn't be here otherwise. It is easy to think, "I never wear a mask and I'm fine." And you will be totally fine not wearing a mask...until that one time when you aren't. For most of us that one time will never come. But for some of us it already has. For some of us it is still coming. For just how many of us depends on how well the community heeds the guidelines.

But seat belt laws are not a perfect analogy. My not wearing a seatbelt is very unlikely to cause injury to others. By not wearing one, I am really only risking my own health. Not wearing a mask, on the other hand, affects those around you. In this way, mask mandates are more similar to restrictions on smoking in public areas. Not wearing your mask does not only risk your safety, but the safety of those around you. But even the example of second-hand smoke does not capture the public health posed by not following COVID guidelines in public. Smoking in a public space does not cause others to start smoking or for them to pass along their second-hand smoke to others who then pick up the habit. But this is what happens with an infectious disease. 

Well, there you have it. A handful of my thoughts and reasoning around my decision to vote in favor of a limited mask mandate.

Stay safe and be kind.