Dear Editor,

I was surprised that this paper would publish a recent letter to the editor stating there is no evidence face masks are effective in controlling the spread of the COVID-19 virus and that requiring wearing of masks is part of a plot to make this a communist type country.

We are being flooded with misinformation in the media and this is an example. Trump’s surgeon general is on television and radio promoting the use of masks. The Mayo Clinic website says. “Mayo Clinic uses multiple strategies to protect staff, patients and visitors, including universal masking, eye protection, distancing, screening and hand hygiene.”

“We believe these measures have helped significantly reduce the risk for COVID-19 transmission,” says Dr. Jack O’Horo, an infectious diseases specialist at Mayo Clinic. “We know that after implementing universal masking for our staff, we saw an immediate decrease in work-related exposures. Of the COVID-19-positive staff exposures that occurred at work, many were due to being unmasked during eating or celebrating with others during the workday. With that, it is clear that masking is an effective measure to prevent exposure to COVID-19 droplets.” Source newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinics-response-to-recent-news-questioning-effectiveness-of-masks/ mayocl.in/2ZvFPzr.

I will believe what the Mayo Clinic says vs. something posted on Facebook or something in a letter to the editor.

Bruce Goff

Martins Ferry