Editorial: Face the facts, masks save lives

New year, new you, new beginnings. 

Same pandemic. 

It’s officially 2021 and with a fresh start of a New Year upon us, many Philadelphians are ready to get back some sense of normalcy after such a tumultuous 12 months. 

While I’m optimistic—cautiously optimistic—at the opportunities 2021 will offer, change cannot happen without action. And COVID-19 will not simply disappear. Hope is on the way—the vaccine is here. But in the meantime, we must continue to socially distance, wash our hands and stay home as much as possible. 

And above all else, we must wear a mask. 

Wearing a face covering will save lives. It’s science, plain and simple. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, community masking can and will reduce the spread of COVID-19. “Cloth face coverings are one of the most powerful weapons we have to slow and stop the spread of the virus – particularly when used universally within a community setting,” said CDC Director Dr. Robert R. Redfield. “All Americans have a responsibility to protect themselves, their families, and their communities.”

Wearing a mask is such a simple act of kindness. 

It not only protects ourselves, but others who we may come in contact with who are more vulnerable to coronavirus and considered high-risk. Philadelphians, for the most part, have been wearing some sort of face covering. And I’m not surprised—we are in the City of Brotherly Love—and there is no act more loving than doing your part to keep your neighbors safe. 

Please, Philadelphia, I know we’re all exhausted, but we just have to hang on a little longer. 

Stay strong. Stay safe. Wear a mask. 

 

 

All photos by Hughe Dillon

 

 

 

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HughE Dillon is a Philadelphia-based photographer and creator of the PhillyChitChat blog. 

Follow him on Twitter @HughE_Dillon and on Instagram @PhillyChitChat.