Should Utility Workers Wear a Mask?
Safety is always first, and compelling new research has come out that seems to reinforce the benefit of ensuring that all utility workers wear masks until the pandemic passes. In fact, the research shows that COVID-19 infections would decrease dramatically in the U.S. if the majority (80%) of the population wore a mask. To understand why, we need to compare the outbreak in the U.S. with that of Japan.
Here’s Why Utility Workers Absolutely Should be Wearing Masks Right Now
After adjusting for the difference in population size, Japan’s death rate is only 2% of what the U.S. has experienced (76k U.S. deaths vs. 577 in Japan), despite the fact that there have been no lockdowns, widespread business closings, or efforts to conduct contact tracing in Japan.
The reason for Japan’s success in minimizing the crisis, according to computer scientist De Kai, is that “nearly everyone there is wearing a mask.” Kai is spearheading a soon-to-be-released computer forecasting analysis that will show that if 80% of the population wore a mask, the number of infections would be 92% lower compared to a scenario where no one wears a mask. Obviously, some percentage of the U.S. population is wearing a mask so this scenario is hypothetical, but it does illuminate how wearing a mask should improve the safety profile of utility workers.
Anti-mask proponents here in the U.S. claim that there is no evidence that masks reduce the spread of the virus, and could actually worsen the spread by providing people with a false sense of security, but those claims have not played out in Japan. Therefore, evidence does not support the “anti-masker” claims.
The bottom line is that utility workers in the field should be wearing masks 100% of the time. I know it’s not exactly comfortable or fashionable, but it’s an important step to take to ensure that all utility workers remain as safe and healthy as possible, as well as to help position the company as a leader in the community by setting a good example for local residents.
