As the largest city in North Dakota, Fargo is at the epicenter of the COVID-19 epidemic in the United States. As of mid-September of 2020, our state has the highest per capita (per person) number of new infections in the U.S. The number of infections in Cass County has increased 6-fold in the last month.

With adequate precautions, COVID-19 is preventable, yet too many people in our city are getting sick, and in some cases dying. There is ample evidence, as stated by the CDC and endorsed by the North Dakota State Health Officer, that masks are essential. Both Governor Doug Burgum and his challenger in the upcoming election, Shelley Lenz, have publicly supported mask wearing as key to public health.

This is not a political issue. It is a matter of life and death. Our elders are not expendable. Nor are people with disabilities or underlying health conditions. We cannot be silent while watching the growth in COVID-19 cases.

We call on the Fargo City Commission to issue a mask mandate that will apply to everyone who enters a business, workplace, or non-profit organization in Fargo. Currently, in spite of the clear benefits, mask wearing in Fargo is minimal. A mandate would remove the social stigma associated with mask wearing and dramatically increase mask use.

We each have a role to play in prevention – not only for our own health, but for the health of our neighbors and loved ones. As our leaders, please support this life-saving effort for the city we love.

Thank you.