You Can Play a Role in Protecting Our Community

Like many things in the past, we have trusted Iowans to do the right thing and voluntarily wear masks during this unprecedented healthcare pandemic. Governor Reynolds, community leaders, medical systems and the media have all appealed to Iowans to help each other and to protect our communities by wearing a mask. Based on observations and a steady increase in positive COVID-19 cases throughout our Greater Des Moines (DSM), it illustrates that the simple appeal for our citizens to voluntarily wear masks is not working. States that have implemented mandatory mask-wearing requirements have significantly reduced the number of COVID-19 cases.

In Iowa, the number of people who are testing positive is rising and hospitalizations and deaths are trending upward after we experienced a short-lived decline earlier in the summer. It is readily apparent that asking people to voluntarily wear a mask is not working well enough. It is not too late to change the course of action. It is time to try a mask mandate. Wearing a mask is not just a social issue. It is a medical concern, and it has the potential to become medical crisis. The prudent choice is to listen to the advice of the medical systems, public health workers and healthcare providers. To get this tiny virus under control, we can all play a role in preventing the spread of COVID-19 by wearing a mask in public.

Please do your part and wear a mask. It protects you, your loved ones and the health of the community.

The Importance of Wearing a Mask

Here’s what a few of the Broadlawns Medical Center health care workers have to say about masks:

“Wearing a mask during this time is just a matter of taking personal responsibility. It’s a simple, effective way to protect your fellow humans!”

Susan Kirstein, RN, MSN, NE-BC
Chief Nursing Officer
Broadlawns Medical Center

“I wear a mask because I want to see children physically back in school safely. We must do our part to keep our community healthy in order to keep our schools open.”

Nicole Gilg Gachiani, MD, MPH, CPE, FAAFP
Chief Physician Quality Officer
Broadlawns Medical Center

“Wear masks and keep social distancing! Even simple fabric masks have been shown both nationally and internationally to reduce COVID cases significantly.”

Yogesh Shah, MD, MPH, FAAFP
Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs
Broadlawns Medical Center

The Greater Des Moines Partnership is working with its partners to encourage businesses and community to Mask Up DSM. You can count on The Partnership to continue to share accurate and fact-based updates. See more on COVID-19 here.