Mask Up!

Mask up!

On March 24th, 2020, Governor Ned Lamont issued Executive Order No. 7L, as well as others, which effectively shut down the state. Subsequently, Columbia Dental temporarily closed 11 of its 15 locations, leaving four offices open for urgent and emergent care. This was done as an alternative for our patients, as the Hospital Emergency Departments were overwhelmed with Covid-19-related issues. Our main office in Manchester (483 Middle Turnpike West) opened 24 hours a day for the convenience of our patients, as infections and odontogenic issues do not disappear in the light of a pandemic, or at late hours.

As you know, our staff has worn masks since the early developments of Covid-19 on the East Coast. In line with Connecticut’s Covid-19 regulations, we have also mandated our patients to wear masks. It did not take long for the CDC to recommend the wearing of masks, as it did not take Governor Lamont to mandate the wearing of masks when social distance cannot be kept. While the Covid-19 numbers in Connecticut remain low, we cannot stress how important it is to maintain social distance, sanitize hands, and most importantly – wear a mask.

At Columbia Dental, all our staff wears masks, they all wash their hands on a frequent basis, and we take their daily temperature. In just our main office, we have had over 10,952 appointments since March 24th, 2020, when Executive Order No. 7L was implemented. With these precautions, we have had zero confirmed cases of Covid-19 on our premises. The South, Midwest, and Pacific West are having a terrible second wave of Covid-19 infections and deaths. In the U.S., we currently have the highest number of Covid-19 cases and fatalities, which makes these precautions even more vital. A recent study shows that “if 95% of people wear cloth masks when they’re out and about interacting with other people, it reduces transmission by at least 30%.” That’s enough to set in motion an “exponential decay” of cases in the U.S., instead of the current “exponential growth” the country is experiencing.

No one wants to go through a lockdown again. No one wants businesses to close again. No one wants to contract this horrific virus and face its consequences. Wear a mask now, and once this pandemic is over, wear a mask never again. I am urging Connecticut, and the country, to follow the Columbia Dental model of masking up.

So, I have one simple message – mask up!

– Dr. Abbas Mohammadi
Columbia Dental, Owner and Founder