It seems as if Americans are not getting the public health message that the risk of covid-19 is not just a personal risk.

When I hear Americans mocking and minimizing, they seem to be suggesting they are okay with accepting a certain risk to their own health.

I wonder if we could be doing a better job spreading the message that the risk from covid-19 is a community risk?

For example, people who refuse to wear masks often state that they aren’t afraid of getting the virus. Which appeals to a certain American fearlessness and boldness. That attitude, as much as I disagree with it, is understandable.

But the attitude misses the real issue by a mile. We don’t wear masks primarily to protect ourselves. We wear them to protect our neighbors.

And I think we’re doing a poor job explaining that.