Congressman Mike Gallagher wears a mask while speaking with reporters during a press conference at Green Bay Austin Straubel International Airport. (PHOTO/WTAQ News)
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) – Many people remain skeptical or even opposed to mask-wearing requirements like the city ordinance passed in Green Bay on Tuesday. But some local lawmakers are hoping to bridge that gap.
“There’s a lot of people that are skeptical of mask wearing, particularly since the CDC for a couple months told us that masks were ineffective, and then it was revealed that this was just effectively a lie to prevent a run on masks for the hospital system,” says Republican Congressman Mike Gallagher, “If we have to wear a mask to get the economy moving again and make sure that people can provide for their families that is a small price to pay.”
Gallagher says he’ll wear a mask anywhere he has to, if that means helping things get back to normal sooner.
“While no one likes wearing a mask, it may feel physically uncomfortable and socially uncomfortable, I will gladly wear a mask if that means that all the businesses in northeast Wisconsin can reopen t to the public. I’ll play pick up basketball in a mask if I have to,” Gallagher tells the WTAQ Morning News with Matt and Earl, “I will do everything short of wearing a Chicago Bears mask in order to get the economy moving again.”
The Congressman is asking all Northeast Wisconsin residents to do the same to ensure a return to normal comes as quickly as possible.
“What we need going forward is for every individual Northeast Wisconsin to exercise common sense and some individual responsibility. Do whatever you can – wearing a mask, basic hygiene, don’t go bar hopping in crowds of 50 people,” Gallagher says, “We need everyone to do what they can so that we can allow people to reopen our businesses and provide for their family and get our kids back to school and go on living our lives in a way we’re not paralyzed by fear.”
However, Gallagher – like many lawmakers and health experts – points out that masking is only one piece to solving the puzzle of COVID-19.
“The only way out of this is the fight smarter with data, test more effectively, and also do contact tracing,” Gallagher says, “We should look at the death rate and the rate of hospitalization. What we’re trying to do is just to avoid the hospital system from becoming overloaded and overwhelmed, and thus far, our hospitals are in a much better position than they were a few months ago.”
Comments