Submitted Thurston County Chamber
It is our job at the Thurston County Chamber to do all that we can to help businesses prosper and keep the economic environment healthy in our community. As we all work to restore business activity in light of the COVID-19 health and economic crisis, the recent increase in cases threatens to short-circuit the recovery and send us backward.
That’s why the Chamber is asking all businesses and community members to follow the CDC and local health officials’ guidelines and wear masks to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus. Doing so now can keep us all safer and can prevent the need for more stringent limitations on business activities in the future.
“Face masks control the spread of COVID-19,” said David Schaffert, President and CEO of the Chamber. “If COVID-19 spreads, it will result in more illness and deaths. An increase in illnesses will force additional stay at home restrictions and new closures”.
“Another round of closures will destroy small business, eliminate jobs and significantly harm the economy,” said Kevin Stormans, owner of Bayview and Ralph’s Thriftway and member of the Chamber’s Board of Trustees. “Wearing a mask, washing your hands, and maintaining social distance when you go out will keep employees, neighbors, and family members safe and healthy,” he said.
According to Schaffert, “Wearing a face mask will directly ensure that businesses continue to stay open. The track record of other cities demonstrates that coronavirus spread can be mitigated – and businesses can remain open – where masks and social distancing have been widely accepted. We have every reason to expect a similar effort here would be successful, too.”
