Healthy people are being demonized and campaigned against

I have been a registered nurse for over 29 years, the majority of which has been spent in the community health setting. All of my jobs during this time have involved infection control, whether that was part of orientation and general practice, or more often a vital part of my responsibilities as a manager. Quite frequently, I had the responsibilities of writing policies and procedures regarding infection control and also was responsible for training and oversight of infection control. None of what is currently occurring today (particularly relating to the wearing of masks) in any way squares with either my training, education or practice, and I have worked in a wide variety of settings.

For my entire career, the wearing of masks was clearly understood to stop the possibility of gross contamination of a sterile field and to prevent the splashing of patient bodily fluids on the face of medical personnel. When I was fitted (fitted - as in specifically conformed to my face) with an N95 mask, for the purpose of working with tuberculosis patients, it was again clearly understood that this was to help prevent the gross contamination of tuberculosis, which is not caused by a virus.

In one of my previous jobs I was the nurse manager of a juvenile correctional facility, a position I held for six years. Between the students and staff, we had approximately 200 people in the building. We had a flu outbreak that ultimately affected 10% of the staff and students. We worked quickly to get it isolated and under control.

What we did: Symptomatic staff were sent home or told not to come in, and symptomatic students were isolated in one housing unit. Everyone in the facility not symptomatic (from maintenance to the superintendent) cleaned the facility from top to bottom. The isolated students were allowed to sleep as much as possible. The kitchen staff provided extra fluids and prepared nourishing foods like soups, stews, broth, etc. Anyone interacting with the students practiced basic infection control measures. Everything resolved completely within about 10 days.

What we did NOT do: Isolate healthy people. Require masks (they were available if anyone wanted them, few opted for them). Stop visitors or any normal programs, including on-site school, hair-cutting services, religious services, visitation, etc., for those who were healthy. We did not prevent parents or guardians from visiting their sick students, as it was their right to do so.

Never before in history have healthy people been so demonized and campaigned against. Healthy people during an outbreak have never been feared. It is unprecedented and for good reason, because it is completely erroneous. While we respect the rights of those who feel they need to wear a mask, we are not given the same respect when we choose to actually live as healthy people.

What Governor Bullock has done throughout this entire debacle has caused massive damage. Small businesses that have been in families for generations have been bankrupted and shut down. Individuals and families have been financially devastated. High school and college events have been ruined. Weddings and other meaningful events have been ruined. Funerals haven’t been able to be held in person to properly memorialize the people lost. No doubt I am leaving out many other things. Worst of all is the absolute devastation to the elderly, which is beyond comprehension it is so evil. Do none of you have children and have any concern about their growing up in this “new abnormal?” It is abnormal and the only acceptable alternative is a return to true normal.

This information is increasingly being censored. Even Anthony Fauci shows his glaring hypocrisy by throwing out the first pitch in a baseball game and then going into the stands and sitting close to others with his mask on his chin. “It’s OK for me, but not for thee”?

If masks work so well for those who believe in them, then why is our choosing not to wear a mask such a huge threat?

Julie Martin is a registered nurse. She lives in Kalispell.