HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-02-20 Public Comment - P. Simmons - Mandate masksFrom:Pat Simmons
To:Agenda
Subject:FW: [EXTERNAL] Demand masks be worn in Montana in all indoor locations, especially Gallatin County -
comment from citizen & response
Date:Thursday, July 2, 2020 11:53:43 AM
Attachments:Masks from Biden.msg
I sent comments as below, to Montana and Gallatin County Health Departments with my position on
face masks. Sending to you for your discussions. I urge a stronger response than the State listed
below, in fact we should make them mandatory, not just recommended. Same for MSU.
I just posted 3 letters to the editor on the Gallatin County Democrats webpage that were in the
Bozeman Daily Chronicle to provide more input to you www.gallatindemocrats.com “In the People’s
Interest”.
I also want more free testing available around the county so all of us asymptomatic people can find
out if we are carriers. We need information on where, when, how, etc. and make it easy.
Vice President Biden is promoting mask wearing nationally. See the attached message that I got this
morning from his campaign. Includes a sticker – you could do something similar so the word gets out
to everyone viewing a sticker “Wear Mask to Protect Me”. This would help with enforcement plus
you should fine any business that doesn’t post a sign on their exterior door that requires masks.
Airlines are giving people without masks a card that tells them they may not be allowed on their
airline next time as a soft threaten/shaming.
We need to get on top of this issue immediately as tourists are here, and MSU starts Aug 17. Gallatin
County and Montana have some of the most senior citizens and veterans of any State.
Thank you,
Pat Simmons
psimmons100@gmail.com
Bozeman, Montana
From: COVID 19 information <COVID19Info@mt.gov>
Sent: Monday, June 29, 2020 4:12 PM
To: Pat Simmons <psimmons100@gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [EXTERNAL] Demand masks be worn in Montana in all indoor locations, especially
Gallatin County
Thank you for your comments.
At this time, wearing a mask is strongly recommended in public settings. The CDC also recommends
wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to
maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies) especially in areas of significant community-based
transmission.
Will Gardner, MPH, CPHPublic Information SpecialistJoint Information CenterMontana State Emergency Coordination Centerhttps://covid19.mt.gov/
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From: Pat Simmons <psimmons100@gmail.com>
Sent: Friday, June 26, 2020 12:22 PM
To: BOHPublicComment@gallatin.mt.gov; COVID 19 information <COVID19Info@mt.gov>
Subject: [EXTERNAL] Demand masks be worn in Montana in all indoor locations, especially Gallatin
County
Please require masks be worn by every person in Montana. I’m lucky in Bozeman that Community
Food Coop and Costco require masks, but that is it. It is unsafe to go to athletic facilities, theatres,
grocery stores, hardware stores, Target, Walmart, etc. everything except one’s own home. Please
require this to stop the COVID-19 cases and my and my husbands risk (we are 73 and 69). The
economy won’t grow until the virus is contained or managed. It is a fact that masks stop spread. The
asshole Republicans in Montana and nation-wide and Trump have made masks unpopular and
negative. You cannot just recommend wearing a mask as you can obviously see. You need to make it
“the law” and provide enforcement.
Additionally require testing stations all over the State, for free, to get everyone’s ability to test to see
if they are asymptomatic and therefore know they need to self-quarantine.
Gallatin County has the most cases, the most increasing cases and we have MSU, Yellowstone Park
and lots of public lands, causing tourists and rich people to pour into our State to tour or buy
properties. We need protections. Demand money from the Trump administration, Congress, Senate
to pay for the testing locations, testing equipment, testing analysis.
Provide information where people can buy better masks (more attractive and comfortable to wear)
than homemade bandanas. Even provide them for free for those who cannot afford to buy.
Your own website lists testing events, but not regular places and procedures all over the State. I sent
an email to your office about this. In Bozeman we have Bozeman Deaconess Hospital and Price Rite
Drug but have no idea if it is free, what their hours are, who can get tested, how you get results, how
often one should get re-tested.
Please get strong and explain to the public on TV, Radio, newspapers, social media your new rules
and enforcement. Get money from Trump for this.
Don’t let us continue the upward trend in cases, especially in Gallatin County. My husband and I
don’t feel safe indoors anywhere.
Thank you,
Pat Simmons
psimmons100@gmail.com
357 Pine Creek Drive
Bozeman, MT 59718