Wear Your Masks To Slow Coronavirus, Ocean Health Officials Say

TOMS RIVER, NJ — The Ocean County Health Department is urging residents to wear masks, after the Centers for Disease Control released findings showing the coronavirus pandemic could be under control within weeks if everyone wore one.

"After more than three months of study and research, the scientific community continues to confirm that masks/face coverings do work in mitigating the transmission of the COVID-19 virus," said Daniel Regenye, public health coordinator for the Ocean County Health Department.

The Ocean County Health Department's statement follows one on Tuesday from Dr. Robert Redfield, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, stressing the need to wear masks.

"The United States could bring the COVID-19 epidemic under control in just a matter of 4 to 8 weeks if everyone would wear a mask," Redfield told the Journal of the American Medical Association.

The most recent findings and CDC report focused on two hair stylists in Missouri, who served 139 clients while the stylists were showing symptoms of COVID-19 and were confirmed to have the virus. Both the stylists and the clients wore face masks, and among the 139 clients, there were no symptomatic secondary cases reported. Among 67 clients tested for COVID-19, all test results were negative.

Adherence to the community’s and companies face-covering policy likely mitigated spread of the virus, the CDC said. The report is published on the CDC website.

"The OCHD is always providing our residents the most up-to-date information and guidance we can share to better educate them that wearing masks and social distancing are the only key measures we have in place to keep people protected and safe from transmission," Regenye said. "Until we find a vaccine or cure, only the consistent and correct use of face coverings, when appropriate, is an important tool for minimizing spread of COVID-19 from pre-symptomatic, asymptomatic, and symptomatic persons."

There have been nearly 10,000 Ocean County residents who have contracted the coronavirus, and 931 of those people have died from it as of Thursday, Regenye said.

Last week Gov. Phil Murphy signed a new executive order mandating residents wear face coverings even outdoors when they social distancing is not possible.

"The CDC report sends a strong message that with the new executive order regarding masks in place in New Jersey, there’s a good chance that we can avoid any setbacks such as the new outbreaks many states around the country are dealing with," the health department said.

"Positive COVID-19 cases in Ocean County are on a steady decline but with the summer tourist season here — along with the reopening of businesses and activities such as outdoor dining, beaches, parks, youth sports, day cares and others entities, people neglecting these protocols are putting themselves and others at risk, which could ultimately lead to a major setback," the department said.

"Only time will tell if the entire country can control the spread by getting all the states on the same page when it comes to social distancing and mask mandates," said Patty High, the county health department's assistant public health coordinator. "Here in Ocean County we have our own job to do and the Ocean County Health Department will continue to do its part urging every resident to not get complacent and help keep the number of positive cases on a steady decline by wearing a face covering and social distance."

Health department officials said residents with questions can call the department at 732-341-9700, ext. 7411. The department's website, www.ochd.org, has information on COVID-19 guidelines.

The state health department has additional information and a 24-hour hotline at 1-800-222-1222. It also has a website, https://covid19nj.gov, with information on the virus.

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