As many of you may be aware, the Director of the CDC Dr. Robert Redfield testified in the Senate Appropriations Committee on 9/16/2020.  He was specifically asked about the wearing of masks.  He answered in no uncertain terms how much cloth face coverings/masks and can help protect us all from COVID-19.  His quote is:

 

I’M NOT GOING TO COMMENT DIRECTLY ABOUT THE PRESIDENT, BUT I AM GOING TO COMMENT AS THE CDC DIRECTOR THAT FACE MASKS, THESE FACE MASKS, ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT POWERFUL PUBLIC HEALTH TOOL WE HAVE. AND I WILL CONTINUE TO APPEAL FOR ALL AMERICANS, ALL INDIVIDUALS IN OUR COUNTRY, TO EMBRACE THESE FACE COVERINGS. I HAVE SAID IT, IF WE DID IT FOR SIX, EIGHT, TEN, 12 WEEKS, WE WOULD BRING THIS PANDEMIC UNDER CONTROL. THESE ACTUALLY, WE HAVE CLEAR SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE THEY WORK. AND THEY ARE OUR BEST DEFENSE. I MIGHT EVEN GO SO FAR AS TO SAY THAT THIS FACE MASK IS MORE GUARANTEED TO PROTECT ME AGAINST COVID THAN WHEN I TAKE A COVID VACCINE, BECAUSE IT MAY BE 70%. AND IF I DON’T GET AN IMMUNE RESPONSE, THE VACCINE IS NOT GOING TO PROTECT ME. THIS FACE MASK WILL. SO I DO WANT TO KEEP ASKING THE AMERICAN PUBLIC TO TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY, PARTICULARLY THE 18 TO 25-YEAR-OLDS WHERE WE’RE SEEING THE OUTBREAK IN AMERICA CONTINUE TO GO LIKE THIS, BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T GOT THE ACCEPTANCE, THE PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE NEED FOR ALL AMERICANS

You can watch a clip of his testimony here:  https://www.c-span.org/video/?c4907075/user-clip-dr-redfield-masks

The APWU supports the wearing of face coverings/masks–even where mandates are not in place–to help protect us all from and slow the spread of COVID-19.

Please Disseminate.

Criteria for Return to Work for Employees with Confirmed Case of COVID-19
Updated Guidance as of 05/06/2020 CLICK HERE

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