Dr. Alddo Molinar Speaks up About Importance of Masks

Ohio — Dr. Alddo Molinar, a respected Ohio-based anesthesiologist, has lent his voice to the medical community’s concern over public reluctance to wear masks to combat Covid-19. Published in the form of an online note presenting the facts surrounding mask usage, the doctor’s comments come amidst a worrying spike in Ohio’s confirmed cases. According to the state’s coronavirus information center, the state has now surpassed 100,000 cases and 3,600 total deaths.

The advisory by Dr. Alddo Molinar addressed the initial confusion that some Ohio residents had felt over shifting mask regulations at the federal level.

“In the early days of the pandemic, some official health organizations were not recommending the use of masks,” noted Molinar. “This recommendation, ultimately, stemmed from a lack of information as to how effective masks would be for the general population to combat virus transmission. It was also born out of a desire to ensure frontline medical personnel had access to masks.”

The doctor went on to highlight how that opinion has shifted as new information has emerged and how masks have now become an important part of recommendations from the CDC and other major health organizations.

“Masks are now required in many public areas and are considered an important part of a cohesive public health strategy alongside other measures such as hand washing and social distancing,” wrote the doctor. “Do not be confused by the shift in guidelines as information emerged, health organizations around the world are now in agreement that wearing masks can help slow the spread of Covid-19.”

Further underscoring the doctor’s statements, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine issued a new mask mandate which began on Thursday, July 23, at 6:00 p.m.

“Our preliminary data indicate that the rate of increase in new cases has slowed in the high-risk counties where masks are already mandated, so we are cautiously optimistic that things are heading in the right direction,” said Governor DeWine in a statement on the mandate. “We believe that requiring masks statewide will make a significant difference and will be key to making sure other counties do not progress to a higher level of increased spread.”

The new mandate requires individuals in the state to wear facial coverings in public when:

• At an indoor location that is not a residence
• Outdoors, but unable to maintain six-foot social distance from people who are not household members
• Waiting for, riding, driving, or operating public transportation, such as a taxi, a car service, or a private car used for ride-sharing.

The following individuals are excluded from the state-wide order:

• Children under the age of ten;
• Those with a medical condition or a disability or those communicating with someone with a disability;
• Those who are actively exercising or playing sports;
• Those who are officiants at religious services;
• Those who are actively involved in public safety; or
• Those who are actively eating or drinking.

The mandate came just days after a public gathering outside the Ohio Statehouse protesting mask usage, according to USA Today. Protestors numbered in the hundreds and spent the day decrying what they saw as government outreach in the form of stifling regulations. Protestors rallied against recommendations from members of the medical community, stating that they had little faith in publicly available statistics.

“It’s not connecting to the science. It’s propaganda,” said one protestor, Cherrelyn Pierson of Marysville, Ohio. “I trust myself,” she continued. “I am the science.”

The science, however, according to Dr. Alddo Molinar, is now quite clear on the matter. In his public show of support for mask usage, he noted how masks can serve to impede the virus’s spread.

“One of the primary ways that viral particles end up in the air is through exhaled saliva droplets,” said the doctor. "These droplets, if unimpeded, travel into the air containing a high load of viral particles. When these droplets evaporate, the viral particles are then suspended in the air. A cloth mask can block these droplets as they’re exhaled, keeping them from evaporating into the air.”

Molinar went on to highlight the importance of wearing masks even if an individual is not experiencing symptoms.

“Not showing symptoms is no guarantee that you are not a carrier,” Molinar continued. “In fact, it now appears that around 40% of individuals show no symptoms upon contracting the virus, even though they can still spread it to others.”

Despite the skepticism present amongst protestors, spikes in daily numbers of cases helped to force the Governor’s hand in terms of instituting the stricter mandate. Just two days before the protest took place, the state set a new daily record for confirmed cases with 1,679 new cases. It has since set a new record with 1,733 on July 30th, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Though the use of masks has been a focus of protests and public debate in recent weeks, health officials have advised a number of additional actions to help contain the spread of the virus. One such action was included in the Governor’s mandate in the form of a travel advisory.

The advisory requires a 14-day self-quarantine for individuals traveling to Ohio from any of the following states:

• Alabama
• Arizona
• Florida
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Mississippi
• Nevada
• South Carolina
• Texas

“I know this will be hard and is a sacrifice, especially as summer vacations are in full force,” said the Governor when releasing the mandate, “but when we have a higher likelihood of being exposed, we should take precautions to limit the exposure of others.”

These restrictions come in addition to other advisories cautioning against informal gatherings and urging the state’s county fairs to follow safety guidelines during fair events.

Expanding on these guidelines, Dr. Alddo Molinar also touched on the importance of additional precautionary measures when out in public.

“Practice social distancing, wash your hands frequently, and limit exposure to others. With these guidelines, we can all do our part to weather this storm together,” said Molinar.

As supported by recommendations from the doctor, Governor DeWine, and official health organizations, the above advice, in combination with public mask usage, can be used to help combat Ohio’s current surge in Covid-19 cases.