If you aren’t wearing a face mask already, you will be. A growing list of states, as well as local governments, are mandating face masks in public. The CDC now says this about the need for cloth face coverings:
​Cloth face coverings are recommended as a simple barrier to help prevent respiratory droplets from traveling into the air and onto other people when the person wearing the cloth face covering coughs, sneezes, talks, or raises their voice…COVID-19 spreads mainly among people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet), so the use of cloth face coverings is particularly important in settings where people are close to each other or where social distancing is difficult to maintain.  (June 28, 2020)

Joseph Fair is a virologist who specializes in the tracking and surveillance of infectious diseases. He currently serves as an Emergency Responder with the International Medical Corps and is a Senior Fellow at the Snowcroft Institute of International Affairs, Texas A&M University. He is also an Episcopalian.

On June 29, Dr. Fair spoke by phone to a group of Episcopal Church leaders. Following is an outline of his presentation.

COVID-19 has led some leaders to imagine the unthinkable. In a panel convened by Ernst and Young, business leaders foresee opportunities for a better world across five dimensions: better health, better connectivity, better relationships, better ingenuity and better accountability.

In this changed and changing world:
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• Societies will be called upon to address inequality and repair social safety nets.
• Action on social justice will increase.
• Focus on long-term value will create new organizational models. Consumers will see a new role of companies for good and will value companies demonstrating a long-term agenda in culture, purpose, and ethics.
• Church leaders and others could be challenged to draw people out of their digital bubbles: Social distancing, remote work and learning are making it harder for people to establish new and trusting relationships. 
• Consumption could decline: Minimalist and self-sustaining lifestyles could endure beyond the pandemic.
• Mental health will come into focus, which could reduce stigma and increase availability of support services.