By Glenn F. Givens
There is substantial evidence and there are several news articles that state masks both prevent the spread of the coronavirus and help to prevent oneself from contracting the coronavirus. I have seen news reports and read news articles lecturing people to wear masks, asking people to wear masks, recommending people to wear masks and reasoning with people to wear masks. I call this the "stick" of the "carrot or the stick" approach to get people to wear masks.
But, in Sumter (and probably elsewhere), it seems that most people still do not wear masks in indoor public places. Last week in South Carolina, there was a 58% increase in new coronavirus cases when comparing the week ending June 8, 2020 (2,772 new cases), to June 15, 2020 (4,382 new cases). At that rate, by the time there is a cure or a vaccine for the coronavirus, I estimate that a significant percentage of both South Carolinians and Sumterites will have had the virus.
A lot of people in Sumter wear masks in indoor public places, and I thank those people and I am grateful for those people (by the way, masks can be worn inside restaurants by patrons when the patrons are not actually eating or drinking). But, again, a lot of people in Sumter do not wear masks in indoor public places. What I am suggesting in this column is for the people in charge of indoor public places to come up with and implement creative, effective ways to encourage non-mask wearers to wear masks. I am referring to positive reinforcement for wearing masks. This is the "carrot" of the "carrot or the stick" approach to get people to wear masks. Masks historically have had negative connotations (like crime and hiding), but we can change that if we choose to and try hard enough - at least temporarily during the coronavirus crisis.
For example, let us say that the positive reinforcement agent is a retail store and the store gives a small discount to customers who are wearing the mask properly (over nose and mouth and tightly) while at the cashier station (like the over age 85 senior discount) - or the store trains the cashier to thank customers for wearing their masks properly ("Thank you for wearing your mask."). The same could be done for a restaurant with a table of patrons who wear masks throughout the meal - except while they are actually eating or drinking. Church preachers and greeters could thank members and visitors for wearing their masks ("Hey How are you? And thank you for wearing your mask."). Teachers could thank their students for wearing their masks. Government agencies could thank people for wearing their masks (again, when people wear masks, they should wear them tightly over both their nose and their mouth - not either over the nose or the mouth). Suddenly, it could become very respectable, appreciated and immediately beneficial to wear masks.
As examples for positive reinforcement, people can be complimented on their masks, thanked for wearing their masks or given small discounts for wearing their masks at public retail, service or restaurant entities, etc. People can be given a free item of nominal value or be entered into a raffle for an item of greater value for wearing their masks. Or, a prize (for example) can be given to the 100th customer wearing a mask. Maybe the concept of positive reinforcement to wear masks is drastic, bizarre or even eye-opening but so is a 58% growth rate in coronavirus cases from one week to the next. Maybe positive reinforcement of mask wearing is a positive strategy to curb the spread of coronavirus cases. What other ways can the people in charge of indoor public places think of to encourage people to wear masks? What other creative ways are there to create positive reinforcement to wear masks? Positive reinforcement strategies for wearing masks do not have to continue forever either. Once there is a cure or a vaccine, the positive reinforcement could stop.
The counter-argument to my suggestion for positive reinforcement to wear masks may be that it is unfair to those in charge of indoor public places to have to or be asked to use the expenditures, time or energy of positive reinforcement to get more of the public to wear masks inside - that arguably, wearing masks is the public's responsibility I agree. It is the public's responsibility to follow the government's recommendations to wear masks in indoor public places. But my counter-argument to that counter-argument is that much of the public is failing in its responsibility by not actually wearing masks in indoor public places; so, just saying that it is the public's responsibility does not solve the current drastic growth problem of the coronavirus (and it is a problem that needs to be tried to be solved at least) - another solution (or combination of solutions) needs to be tried - such as positive reinforcement for wearing masks. Because much of the public is not taking responsibility and wearing masks in indoor public places, maybe positive reinforcement to get more of the public to wear masks (or other ideas) should be given a try.
It seems that most people do not wear masks inside stores, and there has been a 58% increase in coronavirus cases in one week. Hospitals are edging toward capacity. It seems like something has got to change for the better or more and more people are going to get sick or get sick and die from the coronavirus.
Maybe positive reinforcement for wearing masks is a strategy to consider. Also, as far as costs to retail, service providers and restaurants, etc. for discounts, etc. for mask wearers, the point-of-sale revenue lost could be made up some with: a.) repeat customers who know that it is possibly a safer environment to visit than the competition who do not offer such mask-wearing discounts, etc. and b.) customer retention by promoting customer health through mask wearing. I suppose the future of this positive reinforcement for mask wearing strategy is up to those in charge of indoor public places.
Glenn Givens is an attorney practicing law in Sumter with Kolb & Givens, Attorneys at Law, LLC. Prior to practicing in Sumter, he practiced as a CPA in Columbia for two years and as an attorney for six years in Florence with Scott & Associates, P.C. He currently practices in the areas of estate planning, probate, business and contracts.
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June 19, 2020 at 05:00PM
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Opinion: Positive reinforcement for wearing masks - Sumter Item
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