The vaccination rate in our town lags behind the state average so I’ll be packing my mask for awhile. I was walking on the sidewalk, approaching a local taco shop to pick up some take out. I took my mask out of my pocket and put it on. A couple passing me smirked and the guy angrily snapped “Hey buddy, you’re outside. You don’t need a mask!” I told him to F off (I was going to tell him he was ugly and stupid but I decided to take the high road). Then I told him I was going in the shop and he should mind his own business. He turned and skulked off like he was the offended one.
Anyway, tens of millions believe the big lie that the election was stolen and that Joe Biden eats babies for breakfast. Do I trust the unvaccinated to wear masks or admit they haven’t gotten the shot or even care if they infect others? Not so much.
I will always have my mask handy, as well. I don't even know if I can physically walk into a store or eating establishment without one. I don't think I remember how. As Pres. Biden was making this announcement on TV, I walked down to my local pub to get takeout. No one was masked inside, and afterward, I wondered if they'd already heard the announcement, or if these are a buncha yahoos I need to continue to avoid.
I think it comes down to numbers. If we’re going to effectively snuff out the virus, vaccination rates have to be much higher. Us feeling safer is nice but not enough to make that happen. Years ago I traveled in areas where life expectancy was short and diseases were common. My yellow vaccination card was tucked in my passport, filled out showing I was protected against a number of things. Also tucked in my pack were the medications my doctor prescribed to me just in case. It all made my experience safer but it didn’t change the picture around me.
Once vaccinated, I was no longer concerned about getting sick. I was concerned about potentially being an asymptomatic transmitter, and passing it on to someone immunocompromised or unvaccinated. It sounds like transmission has been determined to be unlikely. Thank goodness! Still, I guess I'd err on the side of caution since it's no big deal to put on a mask.
Paul, I don't trust antivaxers to follow the rules of masking up either. I wonder if we'll see another wave of illness among them.
I’m waiting to hear about the Kentucky Derby crowd, Texas Rangers full capacity crowds, etc. People needed a mask to enter but once inside took them off or pulled them down. Forget distancing.
The thing is, as long as transmission continues, chance of mutations (variants) continues. Getting vaccinated and vaccinating the world's population can help us all to continue to live maskless.
I'm thinking the above chart says you do have to still wear a mask at "crowded outdoor sports events". (What if it's not crowded? If they space people out, I don't know why that would be necessary.) We had to wear masks at an outdoor graduation last weekend. We were far away from anyone, so it seemed unnecessary. We wore them anyway. I wonder how long social distancing will be a thing? I'm fully vaccinated and will still carry a mask with me in case someone else is not comfortable with me being without or if it just seems to feel like the right thing to do for other reasons. I do know of people who have contracted COVID despite being vaccinated. They were asymptomatic or had very mild symptoms. I wonder if vaccinated, immune-compromised people are still at risk? (I have so many questions.) I suppose quarantine guidelines should change, too. i.e. If a vaccinated person tests positive, do the people who were in contact with that person no longer need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status? And do we need to be more careful around infants? (is a lower viral load still a risk to them?)
For me, I feel more free. For others, I wish everyone would get vaccinated! I'm still cautiously optimistic. Though we've come so far in the last year, the people across the globe have a long way to go before feeling safe.
Having said all of that, as of the latest data, 36.3% of people in the US have been fully vaccinated. 46.5% have been fully vaccinated in CT. Globally, estimates are only 4.4% have been fully vaccinated. That's our privilege in numbers.
My county is projected to go "clear"-- monitored as it goes to no restrictions on business capacity or business practice. My family and I intend to keep wearing masks in public places, to favor businesses that continue to restrict usage, and to avoid eating inside premises unless we know in advance that their layouts are conducive to distancing and ventilation. In fact, we now need to be stricter about that last, since many places I judged okay under limited capacity are not okay by my if they're at 100%.
I am heading out for a walk, and I am taking a mask. As I said earlier, I'm not sure I can break my habit of giving wide berth to other walks. That habit has become so ingrained...
I have masks by my door, in my pocket and car. I have several see through masks that I give out when I am trying to communicate with someone since I need to speechread. Even though the mandate has lifted for now, we still need education about the need for accessibility for those with hearing loss. It is nearly impossible to communicate and incredibly stressful to try. I am having visits without masks and am absolutely thrilled.
I'm looking forward to eating indoors at my favorite restaurants again. (I ate outdoors even on some pretty cold days this winter.) I've been taking my mask off to take my morning walk but putting it on when I'm crossing paths with another pedestrian. I'll still do that for a while longer, out of respect for the other person. But maybe I'll no longer feel compelled to cross the street to avoid them. It'll still be a while before I will be able to go into a store without a mask, assuming the store allows it. And it will be a much longer while before I will go to a 2+ hour movie and sit next to unmasked strangers.
That’s pretty much my plan. I will still step out into the street when I come across another walker. Today, I’ll try to remember not the do that. I’m assuming I’ll still be masked up in the fall at work and that’s OK.
We have masks scattered throughout the house cars and in apparel pockets! My beloved wife has now turned them into fashion accessories ala Nancy Pelosi
Mine all have deep and meaningful messages on them, save for a couple friends made me. My favorite is and always will be the one that says "Trust science, not morons."
The vaccination rate in our town lags behind the state average so I’ll be packing my mask for awhile. I was walking on the sidewalk, approaching a local taco shop to pick up some take out. I took my mask out of my pocket and put it on. A couple passing me smirked and the guy angrily snapped “Hey buddy, you’re outside. You don’t need a mask!” I told him to F off (I was going to tell him he was ugly and stupid but I decided to take the high road). Then I told him I was going in the shop and he should mind his own business. He turned and skulked off like he was the offended one.
Anyway, tens of millions believe the big lie that the election was stolen and that Joe Biden eats babies for breakfast. Do I trust the unvaccinated to wear masks or admit they haven’t gotten the shot or even care if they infect others? Not so much.
I will always have my mask handy, as well. I don't even know if I can physically walk into a store or eating establishment without one. I don't think I remember how. As Pres. Biden was making this announcement on TV, I walked down to my local pub to get takeout. No one was masked inside, and afterward, I wondered if they'd already heard the announcement, or if these are a buncha yahoos I need to continue to avoid.
But here's my question, and I honestly am not sure of the answer: IF I am fully vaccinated (I am) the chances of me catching the virus are small that I will catch the virus -- and if I DO catch it, the chances of it being a catastrophic event are small. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/why-measure-effectiveness/breakthrough-cases.html#:~:text=A%20small%20percentage%20of%20people,called%20%E2%80%9Cvaccine%20breakthrough%20cases.%E2%80%9D So why aren't we all ripping off our masks in glee?
I think it comes down to numbers. If we’re going to effectively snuff out the virus, vaccination rates have to be much higher. Us feeling safer is nice but not enough to make that happen. Years ago I traveled in areas where life expectancy was short and diseases were common. My yellow vaccination card was tucked in my passport, filled out showing I was protected against a number of things. Also tucked in my pack were the medications my doctor prescribed to me just in case. It all made my experience safer but it didn’t change the picture around me.
That makes sense.
Once vaccinated, I was no longer concerned about getting sick. I was concerned about potentially being an asymptomatic transmitter, and passing it on to someone immunocompromised or unvaccinated. It sounds like transmission has been determined to be unlikely. Thank goodness! Still, I guess I'd err on the side of caution since it's no big deal to put on a mask.
Paul, I don't trust antivaxers to follow the rules of masking up either. I wonder if we'll see another wave of illness among them.
I’m waiting to hear about the Kentucky Derby crowd, Texas Rangers full capacity crowds, etc. People needed a mask to enter but once inside took them off or pulled them down. Forget distancing.
The thing is, as long as transmission continues, chance of mutations (variants) continues. Getting vaccinated and vaccinating the world's population can help us all to continue to live maskless.
I was pleased to see we are (finally) sending vaccine to less developed countries.
I am impressed with an fu being the high road Paul
Gotta keep it classy.
Why? This is MY Substack and we'll have no one lick of class about it, thank you.
I'm thinking the above chart says you do have to still wear a mask at "crowded outdoor sports events". (What if it's not crowded? If they space people out, I don't know why that would be necessary.) We had to wear masks at an outdoor graduation last weekend. We were far away from anyone, so it seemed unnecessary. We wore them anyway. I wonder how long social distancing will be a thing? I'm fully vaccinated and will still carry a mask with me in case someone else is not comfortable with me being without or if it just seems to feel like the right thing to do for other reasons. I do know of people who have contracted COVID despite being vaccinated. They were asymptomatic or had very mild symptoms. I wonder if vaccinated, immune-compromised people are still at risk? (I have so many questions.) I suppose quarantine guidelines should change, too. i.e. If a vaccinated person tests positive, do the people who were in contact with that person no longer need to quarantine, regardless of vaccination status? And do we need to be more careful around infants? (is a lower viral load still a risk to them?)
For me, I feel more free. For others, I wish everyone would get vaccinated! I'm still cautiously optimistic. Though we've come so far in the last year, the people across the globe have a long way to go before feeling safe.
Having said all of that, as of the latest data, 36.3% of people in the US have been fully vaccinated. 46.5% have been fully vaccinated in CT. Globally, estimates are only 4.4% have been fully vaccinated. That's our privilege in numbers.
My county is projected to go "clear"-- monitored as it goes to no restrictions on business capacity or business practice. My family and I intend to keep wearing masks in public places, to favor businesses that continue to restrict usage, and to avoid eating inside premises unless we know in advance that their layouts are conducive to distancing and ventilation. In fact, we now need to be stricter about that last, since many places I judged okay under limited capacity are not okay by my if they're at 100%.
I am heading out for a walk, and I am taking a mask. As I said earlier, I'm not sure I can break my habit of giving wide berth to other walks. That habit has become so ingrained...
Same.
I have masks by my door, in my pocket and car. I have several see through masks that I give out when I am trying to communicate with someone since I need to speechread. Even though the mandate has lifted for now, we still need education about the need for accessibility for those with hearing loss. It is nearly impossible to communicate and incredibly stressful to try. I am having visits without masks and am absolutely thrilled.
Good point.
I'm looking forward to eating indoors at my favorite restaurants again. (I ate outdoors even on some pretty cold days this winter.) I've been taking my mask off to take my morning walk but putting it on when I'm crossing paths with another pedestrian. I'll still do that for a while longer, out of respect for the other person. But maybe I'll no longer feel compelled to cross the street to avoid them. It'll still be a while before I will be able to go into a store without a mask, assuming the store allows it. And it will be a much longer while before I will go to a 2+ hour movie and sit next to unmasked strangers.
That’s pretty much my plan. I will still step out into the street when I come across another walker. Today, I’ll try to remember not the do that. I’m assuming I’ll still be masked up in the fall at work and that’s OK.
I read this today. Though we've come far, scientists still don't have enough data to fully understand immunity. Those with blood cancers, taking transplant anti-rejection drugs, some autoimmune diseases, may need to wear masks & socially distance & avoid some of us maskless people for awhile. I also wonder if chemotherapy in general affects the body's ability to make antibodies. Heartbreaking these people are somewhat left out of having new freedom from vaccinations. And for the rest of us, it seems how long vaccination protection lasts is still a question. https://www.statnews.com/2021/05/14/uncertain-protection-from-covid-vaccines-leaves-cancer-patients-in-limbo/?utm_source=STAT+Newsletters&utm_campaign=5e75373ced-Cancer_Briefing&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_8cab1d7961-5e75373ced-151872917
We have masks scattered throughout the house cars and in apparel pockets! My beloved wife has now turned them into fashion accessories ala Nancy Pelosi
Mine all have deep and meaningful messages on them, save for a couple friends made me. My favorite is and always will be the one that says "Trust science, not morons."