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Dr. Celine Gounder appears on MSNBC on Monday.
MSNBC screenshot
“ “Unfortunately the wearing of masks has been politicized. This is a basic hygienic measure — it is like politicizing toilet paper.” ”
That’s Dr. Celine Gounder, a member of the Biden-Harris coronavirus advisory board, stressing the importance of mask-wearing Monday during an MSNBC interview with Katy Tur.
Gounder, an epidemiologist and infectious disease specialist, said it will be difficult to change anti-mask attitudes, but that providing more financial aid could help.
“People resist, people disbelieve when their other needs are not being met,” she told MSNBC, adding that the abstract threat of the coronavirus might be outweighed by economic fears that often have a greater impact on people’s everyday lives.
“We really do need to be addressing both at the same time, and that includes having another stimulus package passed,” Gounder said.
She delivered a similar message Saturday on MSNBC, telling host Ali Velshi: “The consistent messaging needs to be: We need to all wear masks. Masks are highly effective in protecting the person who’s wearing them, protecting others. They’re cheap, and they don’t shut down the economy. If you want to keep the economy open, you should wear a mask.”
