Sign the petition to make wearing a face mask during the COVID-19 pandemic a national mandate.

The Trump administration has made wearing a face mask – an easy, inexpensive, and life-saving practice – deeply political. We've already seen what this lack of national leadership means, and we can’t continue down this path. Consider:

• Masks save lives. Research demonstrates that wearing a mask reduces the spread of respiratory viruses emitted as droplets and aerosols. This is particularly important for vulnerable populations: the elderly, those with compromised immune systems, and people without affordable health care access.
• Frontline workers need protection. Health care providers, first responders, retail workers, and restaurant staff are all being exposed to the virus by people who aren’t wearing masks. And people of color are disproportionately in essential frontline jobs that cannot be done remotely, furthering the risk of exposure to the virus.
• Wearing a mask doesn't just save lives, it saves livelihoods. It's estimated that lockdowns reduce GDP by 5%, roughly $1 trillion. That decrease is passed onto families through higher prices for goods and services, and fewer jobs. We need to reduce the spread of the virus so our economy can recover.

The facts are undeniable.