By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
When the cribbage and card players at Wood County Senior Center heard Wednesday that face coverings were no longer required, they couldn’t get unmasked fast enough.
“Woooooohooooo,” said Pat Brenneman, who was playing a card game called Hand and Foot (which is like Canasta) with three other ladies.
“Thank God,” said Diane Markham, as she ripped off her mask.
“I’m happy,” said Danilda Lee, who quickly added that some seniors may wish to continue wearing them – even though she pulled hers off. “If you feel like you want to wear it, that’s fine.”
The ladies have quite a collection of masks at home, since the senior centers in the county were among the last places to require them for all who entered.
“I used to make them. I probably have a box of about 100 at home,” Markham said.
At a nearby table, Mary Hansen was working on a puzzle of a scenic landscape. When she heard the news, she pulled off her mask.
And the table of cribbage players did the same.
“It’s great news,” said Jim Jones.
“Are they collecting all of them to burn them,” joked Kit Eridon.
Within seconds Jones, Eridon, Charlene Avery and John Mekus had unmasked.
“Now we get to find out what we look like,” Jones said with a grin.
Upstairs in the billiards room, the decision by the Wood County Committee on Aging Board was very welcome, though it did stir some controversy.
“It’s about time,” said Gene Joseph, of Weston, who was getting ready to take a shot on the pool table. “It’s been proven masks don’t do anything.” Joseph said he did his own research on COVID.
“You’re full of bologna,” responded David Digby, of Bowling Green, who pointed out that he has had his COVID booster shot, and is a retired science teacher.
But the two men could agree on one thing – it’s better to play pool without masks.
“I’m glad we’re done with them,” Digby said.
Minutes before, the WCCOA Board voted unanimously to rescind its mask mandate at the county’s eight senior centers, and adhere to CDC guidelines if COVID numbers were to rise again. The decision was effective immediately.
“Our numbers are very low in the county,” said board member Ben Batey, who is also the chief health officer at Bowling Green State University.
The board talked about lifting the mask mandate last month, but because the senior centers serve the most vulnerable local residents, it was decided to stick with the masks.
“We know the impact COVID has had on the older population,” Denise Niese, executive director of the Wood County Committee on Aging, said at the March meeting.
“If we were a long-term care facility, if we were a hospital, we would be required to continue masking,” Niese said, noting that the senior centers cater to clientele with the same vulnerabilities.
However, with the case numbers continuing to drop, Niese acknowledged that now may be time to end the mandate.
“It’s probably time for you as a board to let us loosen up that requirement,” she said on Wednesday.
At the same time, Niese stressed that people in the senior centers should respect choices by some to continue wearing masks – and perhaps wear masks around those who are being more cautious.
“I think we need to empower people to make the right choice for themselves,” she said.
While the mandate was rescinded, it was noted that the mask requirement may have to be revisited if the county’s COVID numbers move from the CDC’s low green level to the higher risk yellow or red levels.
