NEWS
Left to right: Brea Lamb, Darlene Lamb, Brittany Pitts.
Cincinnati Masks Up As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, more and more Cincinnatians are donning masks in an effort to stop the spread of the virus. CityBeat spoke to residents who are wearing them about what is weighing heaviest on their minds during this strange, historic time P H OTO S A N D I N T E RV I E W S BY N I C K S WA RT S E L L
T
he novel coronavirus that causes COVID-19 continues to sweep across the country and, as of May 5, Hamilton County had seen more than 789 confirmed cases resulting in 46 deaths. Nationally, there have been more than 1.1 million confirmed cases and 68,000 deaths due to COVID-19 in that same time period. Health experts and public officials have urged precautionary measures, including wearing masks, to slow the spread of the virus. Many Cincinnatians have done so, and it’s a strong recommendation from Gov. Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health to wear one in public as the state moves to reopen a handful of businesses. Some citizens have made their own unique, colorful masks. Others have donned the classic, utilitarian white and blue masks you
usually see medical professionals wear. CityBeat talked to people across a wide array of ages, locations, races and professions who have opted to wear masks about what is foremost on their minds during the historic pandemic. Here are excerpts from those interviews. Brittany Pitts, Kroger employee, with Darlene Lamb and Brea Lamb Brittany Pitts: “I work for Kroger, in customer service. I’m essential.” (Laughs) “I do check cashing and bill payment, so I’m in close contact with people all day. It’s scary, because I deal with a lot of people, and people are still coming to the grocery store. Of course people need food, but I see people coming in every day. It’s become the local hangout. It’s pretty scary. I wish people would stay home and only come out for
Lauren Wade.
what they need.” Darlene Lamb: “I’ve been wearing it ever since it started. It’s kinda irritating, but we have to wear them. I’m kind of scared to go out much, because they say stay in as much as you can.” Brea Lamb: “I’ve been wearing the mask for a couple weeks. But I work from home so I don’t have to wear them too often...Even if they do reopen starting May 1, how are they going to go about that? How do we know it’s safe to be out?”
Lauren Wade, University of Cincinnati Health Emergency Room Nurse “The problem for most of us here is, because of where we work, we’re very worried about bringing this home to our families. I have a mother-in-law currently going through cancer treatments, so she’s at higher risk. My mom, even though she is also a nurse, she’s older. So that’s a concern. It’s a concern for all of us. Of course, we take so many precautions. Nurses are very well
M AY 6 - 3 1 , 2 0 2 0
CONTINUES ON PAGE 04
|
C I T Y B E AT. C O M
3
