I am wearing a mask when in public. It doesn't hurt that I have a cool Minnesota Vikings mask that my mother-in-law made for me.

According to U.S. and Minnesota health officials, wearing a cloth mask in public may help reduce the spread of the coronavirus by individuals that are infected, but have no idea that they are because the have no symptoms. I've seen that could apply to anywhere from 25 to 40 percent of infected individuals.

There's conflicting information regarding masks. The World Health Organization says there's really no reason for a healthy person to wear a mask. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control recommends wearing a mask.

CDC.gov
CDC.gov
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The CDC advises:

It is critical to emphasize that maintaining 6-feet social distancing remains important to slowing the spread of the virus.  CDC is additionally advising the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others.

The City of Minneapolis is now requiring all people to wear a mask in public places. I was at Menards in Waite Park yesterday, one of many stores that also requires that customers wear a mask.

Here's my feeling on wearing masks in public. There's a lot we don't know about the coronavirus. Maybe masks help, maybe they don't. Why wouldn't I err on the side of your safety by wearing a mask in case it actually might help. If we can't know for for sure, why wouldn't we take the safe option? It's doesn't help me from getting it, but it might help me from spreading it to you.

Plus, I have that cool Vikings mask. SKOL!

Pete Hanson is on 98.1 Minnesota's New Country weekday mornings from 5:30 to 10:00.

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