The leadership of Georgia Women (And Those Who Stand With Us) has many different identities. We are scientists, engineers, medical professionals, professional social workers, mothers, grandmothers, business owners, healthy and medically fragile individuals. In this, we reflect the larger membership of our group.
 
To us, it is devastating that information and peer-reviewed research related to coronavirus disease control and spread is being ignored.
 
The PRIMARY WORK of you, our elected officials, MUST be to protect the citizens of Macon-Bibb from this virus!
 
For this reason, we call on the Mayor and this Commission to institute and enforce a face mask policy for Macon-Bibb that will allow our local economy to survive the devastation of COVID19, enable safe reopening of schools, prevent overwhelming the health care system and assure the greatest number of citizens survive this pandemic.
 
The mask policy should, at a minimum, require the wearing of face coverings in all public spaces in Macon-Bibb County.
 
This is the only reasonable public policy in light of statements from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advising face coverings slow the infection rate. A recent study from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts the death rate will be cut in half if 95% of Americans wear face coverings.
 
Failure to institute a policy requiring face coverings continues to put in danger those in our community who are forced to return to work in order to feed their families and retain their housing. 
 
This Commission has the luxury of meeting virtually, but MANY of our residents don’t have the choice to work from home. We MUST protect them from the reckless individuals in our community who choose not to wear masks, making our public spaces unsafe.
            
Each of you ran for office because you wanted to be a leader in our community. 
NOW is the time we need you to lead!
            
PLEASE use the authority given to this body to do this ONE simple thing that has the GREATEST opportunity to protect Macon-Bibb, which is your PRIMARY charge.  
 
Institute a Face Coverings Requirement for Macon-Bibb County, effective immediately.