written by Peter Fox, PhD, Professor of Environmental Engineering at Arizona State University since 1990

There is only one way to get back to a new normal which is to wear a mask. Since the Governor of Arizona will not seriously promote wearing a mask it is up to us to do something about it. How?

1. Give your hard-earned dollars to businesses that promote mask wearing. Let them know you appreciate their safe habits.

2. Let businesses know you will not spend your money at their business if they are not promoting mask wearing. Do this kindly but firmly. Explain that this is the only we can all get what we want which is a healthy economy. A new normal requires mask wearing. If you have been a long-time customer, let them know that if they want to retain your business, they need to promote mask wearing.

3. If you do not know if a business is promoting mask wearing, call ahead and find out. Follow the guidelines above. For those that are not comfortable with a potential confrontation, just make a call.

4. Let’s make businesses know that they need to protect their employees and their customers. Anything less is intolerable.

Mask-wearing people are in the majority and mandating mask wearing in Arizona is unlikely to happen. If businesses understand that they can lose customers, they will be forced to lead the way. This might seem callous to some but increasing infections and deaths from COVID are the alternative. This is not a boycott — this is living a better life.