Stay Safe, Stay Open. Wear a Mask.

Wearing a mask is one of the most politically charged aspects of the coronavirus pandemic, but it doesn’t have to be. Research shows that you’re 65% less likely to become infected with the virus if you wear a cloth facial covering.

Nobody likes covering up their mouth and nose, but it’s not about comfort or fashion. If we want our local businesses to stay open, we all need to do our part and protect each other.

California and Texas have already rolled back some of their reopening measures. Governor Inslee did the same on July 23. If the spread of COVID-19 continues, stricter measures may be necessary. Many small businesses all over our great state are already suffering. A return to “stay-at-home” orders would be devastating, shuttering more businesses for good and setting the local economy back even further.

Here at AGC of Washington, that’s the last thing any of us want to see. In an effort to do our part and support commerce as a whole, we’re teaming up with other local businesses to launch a new campaign: “Stay Safe, Stay Open. Wear a Mask.” COVID cases continue to trend upward. Unfortunately, that’s our new reality, at least until a vaccine is developed and made available for widespread use.

In the meantime, we need to do everything we can to adhere to the CDC’s guidelines of practicing good hand hygiene, staying at least six feet away from others and wearing a mask in public. We’ve come too far to go back. To learn more about the Stay Safe Washington campaign, click here. If you’d like to learn more about the benefits of masks or what type of mask you should wear, click here.

These are trying and uncertain times. Emotions are running high, and division abounds. To counter that, we must come together. If we do, we’ll get through this pandemic and come out on the other end much stronger.