Take it from an oral surgeon, masks do help curb virus spread

Wear a mask; it’s not rocket science

The writer is an oral surgeon.

In 40 years of wearing masks 6-8 hours a day during surgery, no harm ever came to me or any surgeon I know of because of wearing a mask. Surgeons wear masks to protect patients, not themselves. The prime function of a surgical mask is not to be airtight. Rather it is to deflect and disperse the concentrated stream of particles we project with each outward breath.

Next time someone talks at you without a mask, imagine their concentrated plume of particles flowing around your face. When you take in a breath, their germs go directly into your lungs. Your non-airtight mask might help, but not nearly as much as if the stream had been dispersed by them wearing a mask. It ain’t rocket science.

Robert Herrin, Charlotte

No mask for me; I’ll be going to SC

Regarding “Cooper extends Phase 2, requires face masks,” (June 25):

Sure glad I live in Waxhaw, just three miles from S.C. border. With the face mask edict by Tsar Roy Cooper, he’s just added more of my shopping dollars to be spent in South Carolina. Now I will go, not just for cheap gas, but I will do all my retail shopping and restaurant meals there.

Jim Prive, Waxhaw

Set aside politics, let’s beat the virus

The writer is an RN.

So, OK everybody — let’s get this virus over with.

As long as it’s out there, statistics can be manipulated and misrepresented to political advantage. Maybe it is political and you’re making a stand for freedom by not wearing a mask and going about life as usual. But the virus lives on, creating havoc, and is going to affect the economy and election in ways you might not like if we don’t beat it.

Please everybody, just wear your mask properly and keep your distance. We’re finding the virus spreads through the air more than through touching things. It’s just for a little while and it’s not that hard. Let’s work together to beat it before it beats us.

Cathy Floyd, Concord

Want my business? Then mask up

If you want my business, your employees need to be properly wearing masks to protect me from COVID-19. This is particularly true of restaurants. You get my money and I get to feel safe. We all win.

Valerie Davis, Charlotte

NC must not leave teachers unprepared

I’ve been a teacher in N.C. for 13 years and I’m chomping at the bit to get back to work. But, and I use this word strongly, we need to have our stuff together before my life and others’ are endangered by going back too early with so much unknown.

Teachers, administrators, school staff and students don’t need to be put into a bad situation that now appears worse than most North Carolinians thought. I hope N.C. lawmakers keep this in mind as they discuss reopening schools with the governor.

If we go back in August, what will my day look like and how well are lawmakers preparing me for it? We do expect thoughtful leadership that doesn’t throw the brunt of policy implementation in our laps without preparing us with supplies, training and time to get the site together.

Scott Yamanashi, Charlotte

CMS, lead the way on Black history

It’s fine that finally America knows about the Juneteenth celebrations and why it’s important to African Americans. It opens the opportunity for national school systems to set in place the curriculum to teach Black history as it should have been taught years ago.

The cursory inclusion of Abe Lincoln’s good deed and a paragraph or two of Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass in no way justifies the history of the American negro. A thorough study of the history is long overdue and should not be an elective subject of study. It needs to be taught that the African voyage to America did not include a stop at Ellis Island. The time is ripe. CMS, you could lead the way.

Elwyn Crawford, Charlotte

Senate should adopt House policing act

Encouraging rogue police officers from using chokeholds and unnecessary deadly force hasn’t worked. We need clear laws reforming police actions that includes transparency and accountability. A good start would be to adopt the George Floyd Justice and Policing Act recently passed by the U.S. House. Senate Republicans: Are you listening?

Margie Storch, Charlotte

Worst judges: those guided by politics

Regarding “Weak-kneed Supreme Court judges,” (June 24 Forum):

Contrary to this Forum writer’s perception, the Supreme Court exists to interpret and apply the law. It does not exist to perpetrate a political philosophy, conservative or liberal. As opposed to being “weak-kneed,” Chief Justice John Roberts has demonstrated enormous courage to vote according to his interpretation of the law and not to assuage a particular group. How fortunate we would be if more justices and judges did so.

Jack Hankins, Charlotte