Mask Confusion Already

[VandVsmama]

Everyone is still welcome to wear a mask forever if they want to.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I only worked for an amusement park one season, and it got really tiresome reminding people about height requirements. Especially when the requirement is listed on 3 different signs they walk by in the ride queue.

"I'm sorry, your child needs to ride with an adult, they aren't 48inches tall."
"She rode by herself last time we were here!"

 

[FlightlessDuck]

Everyone is still welcome to wear a mask forever if they want to.

 

[Music City Mama]

So I think businesses and churches and offices are probably going to continue requiring masks so unvaxxed people don't go around without masks on and lie about being vaxxed.

That may be true where you are, but here, I guarantee the opposite. They won't ask, and won't care. So, instead of continuing to require it like in your example, they'll not require it at all.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

That may be true where you are, but here, I guarantee the opposite. They won't ask, and won't care. So, instead of continuing to require it like in your example, they'll not require it at all.

Well, that is the other option, sure. I wouldn't be surprised to see that happen in some businesses around here, too.

 

[leahgoogle]

Until more variants reach us.

There is some thought that natural immunity will even make the variants less deadly (as stated in that article).

 

[Starport Seven-Five]

Waited for what? Everyone 16+ has had access to the vaccine long enough to be fully vaccinated or very close to it at this point. The under 16 crowd has never been the issue. It has always been about adults spreading the virus, getting very ill and becoming hospitalized. If the vast majority of adults are vaccinated, unvaccinated kids should not be a point of concern. Community spread and death rates should be next to nil if adults do their part.

It's a question regarding intent.

-If your only goal is preventing death from the current variant you are correct. The 65+ crowd is above 70% vaccinated and high risk have had the opportunity to vaccinate.
-If your goal is continuing to drive case numbers down, keeping masks is a low impact containment method. Everyone has them and it's not a big deal to wear them.

I kind of fall in the 2nd camp as I think there is real concern of continued transmission resulting in more and more aggressive strains of this virus. If we keep masks a bit longer and drive case numbers to nil, it significantly reduces that risk. The impact of doing that vs the impact of another lockdown seems like a very positive risk/reward calculation to me. That being said, I'm vaccinated so I've already mitigated the vast majority of my risk and would be comfortable not wearing a mask personally.

 

[Robbydj13]

And now they are relying on the very scientific "honor system" for mask wearing. It's weird and gives me a bad feeling about the CDC. But, again, they are America's top scientists, so who am I to question them?

Honor System it is!

They can mail me the vaccine and the card saying im vaccinated, and Ill respond to them and tell them I took it... That's the way this mail in stuff works right....honor system

 

[Robbydj13]

Pretty much every scientist and healthcare worker I know does.

Well you don't research much....there's plenty on record disagreeing with the main stream media doctors and scientists. And they all have the same education....so something is a miss

 

[BrianL]

I will just say that despite CDC guidance or government mandates, please respect a business's decision to still require masks. There's going to be a process, and we all want to be ditch the masks, but a little common courtesy is important too. Don't put the employess in a tough situation - don't make them have to ask over and over again. I was just at Disney and the CMs were great, but man they must have been tired of asking people again and again to pull up their masks! If they are asking you to do it, please just do it.

 

[mrodgers]

And now they are relying on the very scientific "honor system" for mask wearing. It's weird and gives me a bad feeling about the CDC. But, again, they are America's top scientists, so who am I to question them?

Honor System it is!

2nd time I've seen this description in this thread. I don't see them as America's top scientists. When you become part of the government, your credibility is destroyed and you are now government agents. No trust in "America's top scientists" at all here.

 

[4Hawks]

This decision was made by bureaucrats and not the scientists doing the actual science. The majority of us who work in the field (I'm a public health microbiologist) do not agree. My personal opinion is that this will backfire.

For those of you who say "follow the science", I'd suggest taking a look at what experts who have been collecting/sharing data throughout the pandemic have to say about this.

Here's a great thread that's worth a read:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392908171170230272

 

[AndreaA]

This decision was made by bureaucrats and not the scientists doing the actual science. The majority of us who work in the field (I'm a public health microbiologist) do not agree. My personal opinion is that this will backfire.

For those of you who say "follow the science", I'd suggest taking a look at what experts who have been collecting/sharing data throughout the pandemic have to say about this.

Here's a great thread that's worth a read:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1392908171170230272

...and there has also been science saying masks were never necessary, doctors saying vaccines aren’t necessary, etc., etc., etc.. So what you’re REALLY saying is “follow the science *I* believe”.

 

[Robbydj13]

...and there has also been science saying masks were never necessary, doctors saying vaccines aren’t necessary, etc., etc., etc.. So what you’re REALLY saying is “follow the science *I* believe”.

Yes... you are 100% correct in that take.

 

[wenrob]

Weren’t people upset that the fully vaccinated were told to still wear masks just the day before yesterday? And now some are upset that they don’t have to. Damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

The reality is that those who were always against masks actively found ways not to wear them. This really doesn’t change much.

Me? I’m fully vaccinated and in five weeks my kids will be fully vaccinated. I will comply with whatever rules an establishment has. Honestly I will probably continue to wear a mask indoors in crowded spaces until I’m more comfortable with the numbers. I have people in my life who won’t get vaccinated and while I personally think their reasons are utter dog crap and it infuriates me I still love them and I’m going to try to protect them to the best of my ability despite their own stubbornness. While the chances are low I’m not going to be the one that brings it them. I’ve had enough loss in my life the last two years. Plus, I like not coming down with every type of crud roaming around out there. It’s been nice not being sick the last year plus.

 

[Jennasis]

It's been the honor system since day one. Nothing changed there. We have been relying on people to do the right thing since patient ZERO...and therein lies the problem. People do not do the right thing.

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

1) If you're uncomfortable with the decision, you can still wear a mask.
2) A bad outcome for a child under 12 with COVID is rarer than with the seasonal flu (very rare)
3) My vaccine is better than your mask, any day of the week
4) Free vaccines are now available far and wide, and there's been plenty of time to get one
5) A certain percentage of the population will NEVER get vaccinated (spent 10 minutes on Fox News - wow!)
6) Even the naysayers acknowledge that the vaccinated are protected and not a threat to others (read lady dr. statement)
7) Most of the younger folks don't understand that a mask is actually a physical impediment to many, particularly older folks

All the CDC is doing is acknowledging this is the moment that protection from COVID becomes one of personal responsibility. There are now plenty of tools available; you choose which one works best for you.

 

[Robbydj13]

It's been the honor system since day one. Nothing changed there. We have been relying on people to do the right thing since patient ZERO...and therein lies the problem. People do not do the right thing.

Right, wrong...is a matter of opinion. In all walks of life. Especially in today's age.....just food for thought

 

[4Hawks]

...and there has also been science saying masks were never necessary, doctors saying vaccines aren’t necessary, etc., etc., etc.. So what you’re REALLY saying is “follow the science *I* believe”.

No, that's not what I'm saying at all. It has nothing to do with what I believe. I simply work in the field and understand how public health decisions are made (with a mix of scientific evidence, public opinion, and political interests).

While there is not a single credible study to support that masks don't work or vaccines aren't necessary, there are many peer reviewed reports of vaccine breakthrough cases, outbreaks among vaccinated people, and reduced neutralization of vaccine variants. Mitigation works best when several layers are used; no single strategy is 100% protective.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

It's amazing we ever eliminated smallpox, honestly.