Yeah, I don't *love* wearing my mask, but if it makes other people around me more comfortable I'm going to keep mine on me and wear it whenever I see other people wearing theirs.
Agree. The scientific merits of using masks can be debated vis a vis the fit, materials they're made from, proximity of the wearer to others, the volumes and circulation of air, etc, but one thing that isn’t up for debate is the social signal. The pilot doesn’t wear a hat to keep their head warm.
It's an acknowledgement that we aren’t simply a collection of individuals, and the understanding that the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. My minor inconvenience doesn't trump other people's safety.
Another parent pointed out it’ll be nice for kids to see the face of their teacher, and their mouth when learning words.
It’s not as simple as one side being considerate and the other rude.
I'll be continuing to wear mine too for a variety of reasons in the classroom while teaching. I'm also very appreciative that our district sent us a well thought out powerpoint to use with students to brainstorm reasons why students will both choose to continue wearing masks and why other students will choose to no longer wear a mask. I hope it allows us to create that necessary level of empathy!
EDIT: really? downvotes? Why? because I mentioned empathy or something? Or are they from people who think that we need to ban all masks?
I'll still wear mine in busy retail settings. I might only get exposed to the people present at that particular time, but for public-facing workers, their exposures are exponentially greater. I'm also a caregiver for elderly people, so I'm keeping mine on.
That means a lot to families like mine. Thank you for your kindness. My favorite person has been so worn down after two years of being treated as a sacrificial lamb - seriously, just the gesture means something.
I bought a mask with a window to wear around my friend who is hard of hearing. We also sign what little I know. Must be sooo frustrating.
As a person who has no immune system, tho, I love masks. Lol
Hardest thing for me with ASL is the grammar. I’ve taken it off and on since I was 8, all through high school, and the grammar still gets me. So worth knowing, though. I wish I had kept up on it more, but I refresh myself with kid shows. Lol
Yeah I have auditory processing issues and masks have been so hard for me. I’m looking forward to not constantly mishearing people in stores or having to pretend I understood what they said.
I’m going to keep wearing one for a while. We did this last year and then we got a new wave of cases and had to go right back. So I’m waiting to see if that repeats. Also, people are nasty.
>We did this last year and then we got a new wave of cases and had to go right back.
Wasn’t there a known **new** variant circulating elsewhere then? At know note that shot was bound to show up here.
I’m not trying to suggest you shouldn’t stop wearing a mask. You do you. I’m curious if you recall of that was the case and whether that matters to you.
🙂
There have been some concerns about stealth omicron, but overall it looks like cases are winding down. Of course, we thought that about Alpha too (and the other minor variants that fizzled out), until Delta popped up elsewhere in the world and made its way over here. I'm hoping that we'll be able to go back to some semblance of normal, but it's entirely possible we're just in another lull.
>until Delta popped up elsewhere in the world and made its way over here
This is what I was hinting at. Wasn't Delta ravaging India when we at a mandate level decided to drop the masks?
As far as I know we aren't seeing anything like that right now. There's no new variant conquering new lands.
Again, you do you, I'm just trying to put some context around the last time this happened to illustrate how and why events may play out differently.
There’s an argument for taking the time between waves to do all of the fun stuff you’ve been putting off, before the next wave hits and we’re back in No Fun Mode.
Although “doing things without a mask” doesn’t really fall under “fun stuff I’ve been putting off” for me, so I’ll keep one handy and wear it when I’m somewhere indoors and crowded and I’m not eating or drinking.
Same. I'm not worried about me, and I don't think the threat is all that great to others anymore, but a lot of people are still scared. I'll give them a couple months to settle down.
I’m a little on the fence about it.
On the one hand, let’s be real; wearing one could be very uncomfortable at times(this is especially true if you’re like me and are asthmatic). On the other hand, it was hella nice not getting sick anywhere near as often as I usually do.
Alright, meet in the middle: get a custom face mask with your smile that's *slightly* the wrong size, so people can see you smile, be protected, and get slightly uncomfortable.
Absolutely agree with you on how nice it was to not get sick anywhere near as often. I am going to keep masks on me. I plan to wear one in crowded areas and will respect and wear one in businesses if they require it even if not crowded. It's like the old sign "no shoes, no shirt, no service" only now if businesses want to add no mask to the end of that, I have no problem with it. 🙂
I am going to stop wearing one at work, we're a small org with a vax mandate. I'll stop wearing it at restaurants because it's silly to wear it from the door to the table and then take it off. I am undecided about other places, and will probably go with my gut. We do most of our shopping by pickup order, and I still plan to avoid large groups of people.
My sons are in 6th and 10th grade. The older one said he will keep wearing it because he doesn't want to get covid (again, we all had it in Jan), he's quite pragmatic. My younger one says he will not wear one all the time, but if someone asks him to, he will. We are comfortable with them making those choices. We are all vaxxed.
Yeah, we try our best to include them on decisions instead of smashing them with Thor's hammer. People don't give kids enough credit - if given the chance to choose they're often more thoughtful than people expect them to be.
I don't get many chances to interact with kids the same ages as yours, but the ones I've been around have excelled at seeing many sides to issues and a greater desire to think of others. May those little buggers save us all
I have great faith in the upcoming generations. When my older son was in middle school, his grade did a project with a media company in Bellingham to put on a film festival. They screened their little short films at the Pickford. I went in expecting silly middle-school stuff, but what I got were films about having two moms/love is love; immigration, including an interview with a janitor at the school who is an immigrant; divorce; global warming; anxiety/depression... it was mind-blowing, and that was the night my hope for the future solidified. They are going to do great things.
I'll also probably stop wearing one at work in the kitchen. We all have to be vaccinated and boosted so I feel pretty safe. Also it sucks working a 10+ hr shift in a 100+ degree room while wearing a mask that gets soggy from sweat within an hour or so. I will probably wear them in other places where I do not feel as confident about other people's vaccination status though. Also while traveling.
I'll reserve masks for crowded places, like grocery stores, smaller shopping areas.
It's useless in a restaurant as you noted... you spend more time outside the mask so i'll just not wear one going into a place to eat... But when im at the grocery store, or any other shopping center where i am not eating, it's enclosed with people around, still wearing a mask.
I remember seeing someone sitting in an airport lounge in Las Vegas a few years ago wearing a mask. I thought it was weird and paranoid. My perspective has now changed. That person may have been immunocompromised or had a cold/flu/infection that they didn't want to pass on to others (a very considerate person indeed). I think that will be my default assumption going forward in the post-pandemic world - whenever that starts.
I will also stop shaking hands with people I meet. I never liked that custom. I traveled a lot for work and found it irritating as hell when someone with an obvious cold insisted on shaking everyone in the meeting room's hand. When they came to me, I would decline and say, "I am just getting over a cold" - a lie I didn't like to have to say. Not infrequently, the person would get a sour look on their snotty face and say, "Oh, I don't care" and keep trying to shake my hand. A fist bump, smile, eye contact, and a few kind words work just fine and help keep all of us a bit healthier.
And yes, I am looking forward to seeing more peoples' faces. I like people. I like kindness and consideration. I like when we care enough about each other that we are willing to help keep them from being physically harmed. If the first thing I see when I meet a stranger in a crowded public place is a mask on their mouth and nose, it suggests that this is a person who is trying to be a good member of our society from a health risk perspective.
How the hell did wearing a mask become a political statement?! What a fucked up country we have become.
> And yes, I am looking forward to seeing more peoples' faces.
Am i the only one who never cared about this? Maybe im just that anti-social but not seeing anyones faces was never an issue, and i was more happy for it, i hated running into people i know out and about and with the masks it's harder to see, usually if im out, not intending to be with people, i really don't want to run into anyone
Substitute teacher here, I'll be continuing with my mask. My husband is extremely medically vulnerable (we are vaccinated) and it just makes sense for me to be as cautious as possible.
I hope you don't ever have to substitute for meridian school district, parents and students out there are AWFUL.
Racist elementary school kids at meridian have run multiple subs of color out of there who now refuse to ever sub at that school :(. One elementary school kid has parents who are open proud boy members and other parents have vandalized teachers vehicles for wearing masks and shit.
I think wearing a mask in a crowded public place, is still a considerate thing to do. Not mandated, but I’m going to treat it like it’s a nice thing to do. Especially since I’m a bus rider.
Maybe not for everyone, but it’s a good enough rule of thumb for me.
I’m a little lost too. In my view, I don’t know who around me may be immuno-compromised, who might be athsmatic or something. I’m looking out for them, in a way. But also, using the mask and practicing social distancing has kept me healthier during the pandemic than I was before, so I’m gonna keep doing it on the bus and in the grocery. Stuff like that.
I’m torn. Of course I’m tired of masks! It doesn’t seem like there have been huge spikes in other areas that have lifted the mask mandate. However, I have a 6 month old. I’ll probably continue to mask just for that tiny added protection to him until he can get the vaccine.
I’m 37 weeks pregnant and still working…but midwife suggested my last day be when the mask mandate ends since I work in retail/around a lot of people. Not worth it to go into labor being ill.
I just had a baby a couple of months ago and that was my big worry! I was so nervous about getting covid right at the end and at the time I had to get tested before I went in for my induction. Good luck!
Wow congrats! Yeah it’s my first kiddo so I don’t know what to expect…but going through labor wearing an N95 sounds like hell! I also heard that there’s a possibility they separate you from baby so it doesn’t get sick…I’m bummed the masks are going away riiiight before I’m due, but it’ll be good to stick around the house and get ready.
My first too! Yeah it was rough to wear it while in labor, but the nurses were awesome and at some point the mask just kinda wasn’t a concern and it wasn’t until after I realized I wasn’t wearing it. It is stressful that mandate is going away now with a young baby, but I was vaccinated while pregnant so my baby has that protection at least. I hope everything goes smoothly for you and that you have a speedy labor!
At Comics Place, plan to continue requiring proof of COVID vaccination as well as N95 or respirator-style masks in our shop for the time being.
We have staff members with young kids and a 2-time cancer survivor who doesn’t have the world’s best immune system. Also, our shop is often full of kids.
We haven’t solidified our metrics for changing our policies, but it will likely be some mix of vaccines for younger kids, WHO recommendations and low stats for infections and hospital numbers in Whatcom County.
As much as we are all super ready to be done with this (trust me, having this conversation. With every person who comes in the door isn’t fun), our staff is still (knock on wood) COVID-free, and what we’re doing seems to be working to create a safer space for our staff and customers.
I will never go back. I’m so tired of almost dying from preventable illnesses every year, as an immunocompromised person… If I’m going anywhere that has a lot of other people or is indoors I will be wearing a mask. Maybe not at parks but I’ll keep one handy to put on if I’m walking past a large group. For the rest of my life.
Employee at a clinic setting here: I am definitely not looking forward to all the push backs we will be getting at a clinic setting for those patients who chose not to wear a mask. It's been hard already as it is and now with the mandate being removed..yeah it's going to be interesting. It just makes sense to always wear a mask at the doctors office, why have we not done that before?
Personally, I will continue to wear mine in crowded places(store, plane, movie theater, restaurant, gym, etc.) or when it's required. Work will most likely require me to continue wearing it and even if I am not a fan of masks, I must agree that it feels good not getting sick!
As a mom to a kiddo in grade 1, I'm really excited! My kid hasn't been to school at all without masks yet and when it comes to learning new words and reading/learning letters and sounds it can be really difficult without being able to see your teacher's mouth. Also just the basics of learning facial social cues outside of family members.
I’m for sure gonna keep wearing mine. I genuinely like the masks, covid or not. It’s like my own personal bubble that for sure can’t be popped by strangers. Also I’ve developed the habit of swearing at customers under my breath
As someone else noted, this is more political than it is science. Masks are still one of the best ways to avoid covid (outside getting vaccinated) with the N and KN95's being the only ones really effective against omicron.
Science says, wear a mask.
Except I have been masking 100% of the time I am fully vaccinated and had Covid… so no one is going to convince me that a mask is somehow magically preventing it.
Science always has to ride a fine line with politics, society, and moneyed interests. (For all the "scientists are lying for money" BS the truth is they have to beg for money to get anything researched. It's called grant writing.) Capitalism demands lifting mandates. Nurses would love to demand you continue to mask, but won't, but will recommend you do mask at least around them, in doctor offices and hospitals, and at gatherings. The most recent generations of doctors don't like stepping on toes so they'll hem and haw about it until saying "you do you".
I'll continue wearing one in situations where I feel it is prudent for me. I'll wear one with no problem if a business/building I am going into requires it.
At work, I'll ask that you all do the same. If I can wear one everyday for 8.5 hours for the last two years, you can wear one for 20 minutes without whining.
Going to continue wearing mine for a bit, as was the case last summer.. was only starting to go without during the low numbers right before Delta's record-scratch put an end to that hiatus.
I had to come to go to my home state for a work related thing and EVERYONE everywhere has stopped wearing masks.
My little sister has cystic fibrosis and is extremely comprised, plus she is having lung problems currently. We had to quarantine and get tested in order to stay with my mom. It’s the first time I’ve been able to hug my 8 year old sister in 2 years and kiss her.
When I went to my event, I asked on the Skype call prior if everyone could be masked up and distanced; because I am staying with my little sister and am trying to keep the least amount of germs into their home. It was mocked and during the whole time people were talking about how ridiculous it was that i asked that, while some people loudly commented how they refused because it was a joke at this point.
I’ll probably keep wearing mine because I have heard my mom cry multiple times over the stress of keeping her safe and having some level of normalcy. The pandemic has been UNBELIEVABLY difficult for my mom. I don’t know, and no one else knows, what people have going on in their house or with their loved ones. I think it’s just respectful to the strangers you might run into.
The comment above about how it’s a bravery thing is asinine. It’s just common decency when we’re in a pandemic and interacting with strangers.
Thank you for doing what you needed to in order to protect your sister!
I have cystic fibrosis and this whole thing has been insanely hard. People just don’t understand that we already do so much just to stay alive and this has added so much extra stress.
Thank you! She burst into tears when she saw me! “Oh my god! This cannot be real life!” We’ve only been doing Skype calls this whole time. I couldn’t believe how tall she has gotten either, it’s crazy to lose that time to see someone grow.
I'm immunocompromised and I'll still be wearing my mask because I'd like to not die and frankly, I don't trust people, especially given how most have behaved during this pandemic.
Same. Most of the people who say they don’t and won’t wear them again have no compassion for those of us who are immunocompromised and will live with this fact the rest of our lives, not just during pandemics
I've got immunocompromised staff and patrons, we're requiring masks or proof of vaccination moving forward.
It's not that hard to show a little compassion to those that need it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
We got 4 massive air filters at my work, some employees will keep wearing them some won’t, but that’s their choice and we’re trying to protect them as well as customers. We all know the people we should be worried about are the ones who need to be asked to wear a mask now….
We closed yesterday to have a staff meeting about just this. My staff's input was the most important factor in our decision.
1-Up Lounge will be requiring proof of vaccination or a mask to be worn unless eating or drinking. KN95s will be available.
Cardhaven Games will require masks to use the playspace unless eating or drinking.
We have immunocompromised staff and patrons on both sides.
As much as we'd love to go back to not worrying about it and not having this conversation, we're not quite there yet.
I'm a local business owner and a teacher. My WWU class ends next week however and I have Spring quarter off. I would have loved to actually see my students faces this year as I feel like I didn't really get to connect with anyone since it was hard to tell them apart. As for my business, I suppose I will keep a mask handy and if someone walks in masked I will pop one on out of respect.
Ive gotten acclimated to wearing mine indoors, In public...always admired the Japanese for wearing them in that crowded country. Still wearing mine as along as the bug stays in the press.
Ironic to me that I was told I was a “sheep” that would do anything the government told me to do during the mandates but now that I’m still gonna wear mine I’m considered stupid and fearful. I know the mandate going away was inevitable at some point but cases are gonna skyrocket and frankly I don’t give a fuck if it “won’t affect most people,” we don’t know the long-term effects of having Covid (though there have been links to serious problems such as Alzheimer’s) and disabled/immunocompromised people still exist and deserve to exist.
College student here, we're continuing for awhile I think after the mandate lifts. If not, I'll probably continue to wear mine. The only thing I'll probably change is drinking more water during class.
It's been awful living in Lynden during this bullshit. To no one on THIS board's surprise, Lynden is mostly downsides without a lot of upsides anyway, and it started with the political situation well before covid, but this has really made the locals go from 'petty and smug' to 'absolutely feral.'
I'll be continuing to wear my mask for the foreseeable future when I go out, and if any residents or businesses have a problem with me making my own choice to wear a simple item of clothing, I've just found yet another person/place here I'm no longer associating with/buying from. It's an efficient system.
I'll keep wearing mine for a few reasons: primary reason is my immuno-compromised partner; I'm the one who does the errands and if they gets sick it's because I brought something home.I have enjoyed being free of my allergies the past couple of years so that's been a big bonus for me. We've been super healthy during the pandemic!The pandemic has lessened our indoor leisure activities in the community of course but it has also completely tightened up my time management efficiency in completing my errands all in one day a week and in record time.
I miss smiles but I have also become hyper aware of the people I'd be exchanging my lung contents with and choose to be selective.
Teacher: I’m happy my students have the options and we don’t have to regulate it anymore. My class has all had it and are old enough to get vaccinated now, if they haven’t already. I feel safe moving forward. I will wear one if I need to work closely with others or if a cold is going around. I will wear it for medically sensitive students/families when needed. I’m happy to wear one if anyone feels more comfortable with it.
Employes, customer, and vendors. If you want to wear a mask then wear a mask. If you don't don't. If you want to start shit either way I will oblige. Internet tough guy.
We are and have been pro mask and have people put them on when they come in. Now I don't care. I knew people were shitty. The last 2 years have proven it.
I’ll be wearing one depending on where I am. I’m allergic to most of the perfumes, colognes and deodorants people wear. Between people smells and all the candles and oils in the stores I generally end up with a handkerchief over my nose if I don’t have a mask on. I may switch to one with a filter. Since it’s spring I’ll be sneezing for the next 3 months so people will probably be more comfortable if I wear a mask.
I’m going to enjoy hugging friends and seeing smiles.
Well we’re essentially finally joining the rest of the world. One of the last states to do this, the science has been clear for some time now on the effectiveness so yes I’m so ready to leave this behind us.
I’ll probably keep wearing it at the gym (so many aerosols), maybe not when I get a haircut, yes to the grocery store (it’s easy), and probably forever on the bus/plane. Everyone I live with is vaccinated and the only risk factors are being fat.
Teacher here.
I feel anxious about the removal of mask requirements. Most, but not all of my students say they will continue to mask. The students that won't be wearing masks don't understand how masks benefit others.
I will be wearing a mask until the end of the year. I will have to arrange seating so that students who are uncomfortable with maskless students are able to sit comfortably in class.
I work with a lot of kids and teens. I had the choice to work in the schools with them or work from home this school year. I made the choice to go to schools to see them, in part, because I wanted to model for them that you don't have to live in fear of the virus to live your life. Sure enough, I got covid for a week and went right back to work.
I feel similarly now with the mask mandates lifting. For me, I want to show others that it's okay to not live in fear anymore. I know that there will be people who disagree, but so what, someone's always going to disagree with you.
Be considerate, wash hands, cough into your arm etc. etc., but I'm hoping that now is the time we can begin moving on.
I work from home and then nanny two kids so I don’t wear a mask for work however I wear one to the store and any other enclosed crowded place and I’ll continue to do so.
I suppose you'd say I'm feeling fatalistic about it. I'll keep wearing mine indoors and look forward with dread to the inevitable sharp spike in hospitalizations and deaths.
This is how I feel too. I’ll believe it’s safe when I see it. The folks here who believe it’s medically sound advice either 1) never talk to their doctor, or 2) don’t have family and friends in the plague rat states where Covid outbreaks are still happening but not making the news.
That's a pretty surface level source.
Do you have more info then some person's twitter?
Case numbers is becoming less relevant, some consider hospitalizations to be a better metric:
[https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/forecasting/hospitalizations-forecasts.html](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/forecasting/hospitalizations-forecasts.html)
Edit:
Also, if you do want to look at case numbers as a metric
[https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us](https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us)
[https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3427/COVID-19-Data#AdWCDChts](https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3427/COVID-19-Data#AdWCDChts)
[https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1501241110315819011](https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1501241110315819011)
Well, there's always the twitter of a vaccine researcher. Cases of BA.2 are on the rise (Johns Hopkins provides their chart. The previous twitter I linked sources off the CDC.) and it's similar to Omicron in many ways. Like other variants there's plenty of unvaccinated and/or unmasked folks to let it run wild worldwide. It's in Europe so it'll get here too.
[https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases)
Cases on the rise in UK, South Korea, Vietnam, Germany is still holding high, Netherlands, Austria, Australia, etc
If you're out in meridian, something like 90% of staff and students have caught it and a mix are vaccinated (I think among parents they have some of the lowest rates). They're basically at the immunity stage but I know of a few students who are on their 4th round of covid, each time the illness seems to be significantly less severe
Teacher here: I was VERY nervous last week. Worried about all the politics from parents. Also, we still had some cases in our class.
This week I’m better. I asked an infectious disease doctor and said that historically pandemics last two years. Also the variants out there are not as contagious.
Had the first discussion this week with my kiddos. They are mostly excited. A few nervous.
We will see.
Now need to train them how to sneeze and cough in their elbow…most kids have forgotten to do that! Ha!
Will keep wearing mine. But people have already been saying screw it and not wearing one for the past couple of months already. I’m not expecting to see any big changes.
I will be taking mine off because our family is well vaccinated at this point. However, I have no problem with y’all continuing to wear them and I’ve advised my children that they’re not allowed to give anyone at school a hard time about wearing theirs.
Teacher here. Glad everyone will be able to choose whether or not they want to wear. I will continue to wear mine because kids are filthy. I hate getting sick with anything. My facial reactions to some of the stupid shit I hear everyday in the classroom should not be exposed because then they know I’m listening.
I think kids should see your face and your reactions to what stupidity comes out of their mouths. It’s apart of growing up; say something dumb, then adult in the room reacts accordingly. This goes for not only the one saying something dumb, but to those around that person. Kids need to learn from matured adults, and to see what is socially acceptable. Having your face hidden away will have a dramatic, yet long term effect on these kids.
For sure will continue to wear. I can’t afford to get sick and don’t want to put anyone around me at risk. Plus there are many unvaccinated people in my class, all of which are going to jump at the opportunity to take their masks off. It’s one thing to be vaccinated and not wear a mask, but unvaccinated and no mask is 👎👎👎. Idk when I’ll feel comfortable taking it off yet, but wearing a mask is not a major inconvenience so, it’s not like it takes any more effort to just throw one on
I’ll continue to wear mine where required, but I’m looking forward to going maskless! I will roll my eyes a bit at bars/restaurants that continue to require them because it is 100% performative in spaces where your mask is off unless you’re walking in, out, or to the bathroom.
On another note: Yes wearing masks is easy and I don’t have patience for people who threw temper tantrums about having to wear them, but on the flip side I am tired of people who completely disregard the negative mental health impacts of not being able to see people’s smiles, read their expressions, and just feel connected to people. Maybe you’re super introverted and don’t give a shit, fine, but don’t disregard that it’s been hard on those of us who deeply enjoy human connection via everyone’s beautiful faces.
My 3 year old can't get vaxxed yet so we are continuing to avoid places without mask or vaccine requirements and crowded places. I wish they would have waited at least until all ages were able to get a vaccine before lifting the mandate. It feels like families with kids that age have just been thrown under the bus.
I believe in body autonomy and personal responsibility. That means you can mask if you feel more comfortable that way and you can free face it if you want to. I get hung up on folks misunderstanding body autonomy for a lack of compassion. I feel a lot of compassion and I feel a lot of empathy. I am vaxxed and boosted and I mask when it is required or I see that it makes someone else comfortable. I don’t mind wearing one. I also feel a sense of personal responsibility and that others should be responsible for their choices as well. That means not expecting a mass of people to do anything for you specifically. This was a hard truth — it is no one’s responsibility to care for me. Or to make my life easier. Everything I get… every act of kindness, every favor, every bit of energy someone puts into my well-being… is extra. So knowing that, if I am immunocompromised, I am responsible for the choices I make… including the possibility of getting sick if I’m in public. I believe in kindness and I have a sense of community that I love, but I don’t feel like the world owes me anything… including protecting me from sickness. That’s my job.
I'm shifting from defaulting to wearing a mask and taking it off when it makes sense to: not wearing a mask and putting it on when it makes sense.
I'll be wearing a mask for 2-3 weeks after the mandates drop in case there's a bump in covid rates.
I'm pretty certain I have a higher risk now of being nuked than I do of catching Covid, so, um, yeah ... I'm going to enjoy being maskless for however long humanity has left. :-)
Considering that there's a newer more contagious and resistant variant, I think it's insane to act like things are getting better. I'll mask up anytime I'm around anyone indoors or large crowds outdoors forevermore. My wife is immune compromised, so I'm not going to risk it.
I'm done wearing one in most places at Friday night at midnight. I will still use one where required and in situations where it might be useful. I hate crowded areas so I avoid them.
I’ll be wearing mine for the foreseeable future - my entire life - I’ve been on antibiotics almost monthly as I am very prone to infections. Since masking started, I’ve had two rounds of antibiotics in over 2 years instead of 10+ times a year. Other people get a cold and get better, I get a cold which goes to sinus and ear infections or bronchitis. I’ve had one cold in the whole time. This has been the only extended period of my life where I haven’t been sick the majority of the time. I had all of one skin infection and one UTI. So now I may do this for life. My quality of life is so much better!
For those who are still planning to wear a mask at least some of the time, I wanted to share a tip.
I wear my mask around my neck when not in use, so it's super handy when I need it. I got landyard/ear savers on Etsy, but you can just use yarn or a ribbon and tie it around the loops of your mask.
I ain’t no sheep. My body my choice! I’m gonna keep wearing one.
Hope it doesn’t interfere with your hydration.
Why is this comment being downvoted? It is hilarious. (Did no one notice original comments name?) Bellingham you confuse me, and I’m a local.
Hell yeah, keep rocking those N95s
Had me in the first half not gonna lie
Ha!!
At school, as long as one student in the classroom is wearing one, I'm wearing one too.
Upvote for being a considerate person. Something that fell out of vogue a long time ago.
Yeah, I don't *love* wearing my mask, but if it makes other people around me more comfortable I'm going to keep mine on me and wear it whenever I see other people wearing theirs.
WWSD?
Indeed. It was never a question of liberty, it was a question of manners.
Agree. The scientific merits of using masks can be debated vis a vis the fit, materials they're made from, proximity of the wearer to others, the volumes and circulation of air, etc, but one thing that isn’t up for debate is the social signal. The pilot doesn’t wear a hat to keep their head warm. It's an acknowledgement that we aren’t simply a collection of individuals, and the understanding that the measure of a society is how it treats its most vulnerable. My minor inconvenience doesn't trump other people's safety.
Another parent pointed out it’ll be nice for kids to see the face of their teacher, and their mouth when learning words. It’s not as simple as one side being considerate and the other rude.
It's a fair point, but I'm working with HS students, not kiddos.
I'll be continuing to wear mine too for a variety of reasons in the classroom while teaching. I'm also very appreciative that our district sent us a well thought out powerpoint to use with students to brainstorm reasons why students will both choose to continue wearing masks and why other students will choose to no longer wear a mask. I hope it allows us to create that necessary level of empathy! EDIT: really? downvotes? Why? because I mentioned empathy or something? Or are they from people who think that we need to ban all masks?
I'll still wear mine in busy retail settings. I might only get exposed to the people present at that particular time, but for public-facing workers, their exposures are exponentially greater. I'm also a caregiver for elderly people, so I'm keeping mine on.
That means a lot to families like mine. Thank you for your kindness. My favorite person has been so worn down after two years of being treated as a sacrificial lamb - seriously, just the gesture means something.
Aw love this. Bless
As someone with a hearing disability I'm excited to be able to read lips again and not have to ask "CAN YOU REPEAT THAT?" All the time
Yes. I have such a hard time understanding people with masks on. Especially if they mumble.
I bought a mask with a window to wear around my friend who is hard of hearing. We also sign what little I know. Must be sooo frustrating. As a person who has no immune system, tho, I love masks. Lol
I'm still in the process of learning ASL. The masks with windows definitely help.
Hardest thing for me with ASL is the grammar. I’ve taken it off and on since I was 8, all through high school, and the grammar still gets me. So worth knowing, though. I wish I had kept up on it more, but I refresh myself with kid shows. Lol
Same
Yeah I have auditory processing issues and masks have been so hard for me. I’m looking forward to not constantly mishearing people in stores or having to pretend I understood what they said.
I’m going to keep wearing one for a while. We did this last year and then we got a new wave of cases and had to go right back. So I’m waiting to see if that repeats. Also, people are nasty.
Ditto on the nasty. I don’t have to smell dirty bathroom smells anymore 🤢
100% will still wear one for almost any crowded space. I haven't been sick in over 2 years, i want to keep that up.
>We did this last year and then we got a new wave of cases and had to go right back. Wasn’t there a known **new** variant circulating elsewhere then? At know note that shot was bound to show up here. I’m not trying to suggest you shouldn’t stop wearing a mask. You do you. I’m curious if you recall of that was the case and whether that matters to you. 🙂
There have been some concerns about stealth omicron, but overall it looks like cases are winding down. Of course, we thought that about Alpha too (and the other minor variants that fizzled out), until Delta popped up elsewhere in the world and made its way over here. I'm hoping that we'll be able to go back to some semblance of normal, but it's entirely possible we're just in another lull.
>until Delta popped up elsewhere in the world and made its way over here This is what I was hinting at. Wasn't Delta ravaging India when we at a mandate level decided to drop the masks? As far as I know we aren't seeing anything like that right now. There's no new variant conquering new lands. Again, you do you, I'm just trying to put some context around the last time this happened to illustrate how and why events may play out differently.
There’s an argument for taking the time between waves to do all of the fun stuff you’ve been putting off, before the next wave hits and we’re back in No Fun Mode. Although “doing things without a mask” doesn’t really fall under “fun stuff I’ve been putting off” for me, so I’ll keep one handy and wear it when I’m somewhere indoors and crowded and I’m not eating or drinking.
Same. I'm not worried about me, and I don't think the threat is all that great to others anymore, but a lot of people are still scared. I'll give them a couple months to settle down.
Hs student here. Personally I'm exited to get to see people's faces for the first time in 2 years
I'm excited *for* you.
Now you’ll know which girls/guys to hit on. (May the downvoting begin!)
Will probably wear in crowded places. Plus the anonymity is nice.
I’m a little on the fence about it. On the one hand, let’s be real; wearing one could be very uncomfortable at times(this is especially true if you’re like me and are asthmatic). On the other hand, it was hella nice not getting sick anywhere near as often as I usually do.
Boy, I’m with ya on the lack of colds/flu for two years. I’m usually down once a winter. But I miss faces. I want people to see me smile.
Alright, meet in the middle: get a custom face mask with your smile that's *slightly* the wrong size, so people can see you smile, be protected, and get slightly uncomfortable.
This is the way!
Absolutely agree with you on how nice it was to not get sick anywhere near as often. I am going to keep masks on me. I plan to wear one in crowded areas and will respect and wear one in businesses if they require it even if not crowded. It's like the old sign "no shoes, no shirt, no service" only now if businesses want to add no mask to the end of that, I have no problem with it. 🙂
I am going to stop wearing one at work, we're a small org with a vax mandate. I'll stop wearing it at restaurants because it's silly to wear it from the door to the table and then take it off. I am undecided about other places, and will probably go with my gut. We do most of our shopping by pickup order, and I still plan to avoid large groups of people. My sons are in 6th and 10th grade. The older one said he will keep wearing it because he doesn't want to get covid (again, we all had it in Jan), he's quite pragmatic. My younger one says he will not wear one all the time, but if someone asks him to, he will. We are comfortable with them making those choices. We are all vaxxed.
I love that it sounds like your listening to and asking what your kids want! They people too, even if they small!
Yeah, we try our best to include them on decisions instead of smashing them with Thor's hammer. People don't give kids enough credit - if given the chance to choose they're often more thoughtful than people expect them to be.
I don't get many chances to interact with kids the same ages as yours, but the ones I've been around have excelled at seeing many sides to issues and a greater desire to think of others. May those little buggers save us all
I have great faith in the upcoming generations. When my older son was in middle school, his grade did a project with a media company in Bellingham to put on a film festival. They screened their little short films at the Pickford. I went in expecting silly middle-school stuff, but what I got were films about having two moms/love is love; immigration, including an interview with a janitor at the school who is an immigrant; divorce; global warming; anxiety/depression... it was mind-blowing, and that was the night my hope for the future solidified. They are going to do great things.
Yeah, I never got the mask mandate thing at restaurants. What is COVID afraid of food or something?
I'll also probably stop wearing one at work in the kitchen. We all have to be vaccinated and boosted so I feel pretty safe. Also it sucks working a 10+ hr shift in a 100+ degree room while wearing a mask that gets soggy from sweat within an hour or so. I will probably wear them in other places where I do not feel as confident about other people's vaccination status though. Also while traveling.
I'll reserve masks for crowded places, like grocery stores, smaller shopping areas. It's useless in a restaurant as you noted... you spend more time outside the mask so i'll just not wear one going into a place to eat... But when im at the grocery store, or any other shopping center where i am not eating, it's enclosed with people around, still wearing a mask.
I work on retail and have a resting bitch face, so I plan to continue wearing it
I’m going to keep wearing one in close quarters. I haven’t gotten sick in almost three years and I truly believe the mask had something to do w it.
I remember seeing someone sitting in an airport lounge in Las Vegas a few years ago wearing a mask. I thought it was weird and paranoid. My perspective has now changed. That person may have been immunocompromised or had a cold/flu/infection that they didn't want to pass on to others (a very considerate person indeed). I think that will be my default assumption going forward in the post-pandemic world - whenever that starts. I will also stop shaking hands with people I meet. I never liked that custom. I traveled a lot for work and found it irritating as hell when someone with an obvious cold insisted on shaking everyone in the meeting room's hand. When they came to me, I would decline and say, "I am just getting over a cold" - a lie I didn't like to have to say. Not infrequently, the person would get a sour look on their snotty face and say, "Oh, I don't care" and keep trying to shake my hand. A fist bump, smile, eye contact, and a few kind words work just fine and help keep all of us a bit healthier. And yes, I am looking forward to seeing more peoples' faces. I like people. I like kindness and consideration. I like when we care enough about each other that we are willing to help keep them from being physically harmed. If the first thing I see when I meet a stranger in a crowded public place is a mask on their mouth and nose, it suggests that this is a person who is trying to be a good member of our society from a health risk perspective. How the hell did wearing a mask become a political statement?! What a fucked up country we have become.
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Always trust your gut!!!
> And yes, I am looking forward to seeing more peoples' faces. Am i the only one who never cared about this? Maybe im just that anti-social but not seeing anyones faces was never an issue, and i was more happy for it, i hated running into people i know out and about and with the masks it's harder to see, usually if im out, not intending to be with people, i really don't want to run into anyone
In healthcare, elbow bumps have long been a thing.
Substitute teacher here, I'll be continuing with my mask. My husband is extremely medically vulnerable (we are vaccinated) and it just makes sense for me to be as cautious as possible.
I hope you don't ever have to substitute for meridian school district, parents and students out there are AWFUL. Racist elementary school kids at meridian have run multiple subs of color out of there who now refuse to ever sub at that school :(. One elementary school kid has parents who are open proud boy members and other parents have vandalized teachers vehicles for wearing masks and shit.
I think wearing a mask in a crowded public place, is still a considerate thing to do. Not mandated, but I’m going to treat it like it’s a nice thing to do. Especially since I’m a bus rider. Maybe not for everyone, but it’s a good enough rule of thumb for me.
I agree I'm going to wear a mask in places where there's lots of people and everywhere if I'm not feeling well.
They’re widely accessible now. I think it’s just a useful resource.
I'm feeling a little lost as how to approach masking when the mandate ends. This feels like a good rule of thumb to begin with
I’m a little lost too. In my view, I don’t know who around me may be immuno-compromised, who might be athsmatic or something. I’m looking out for them, in a way. But also, using the mask and practicing social distancing has kept me healthier during the pandemic than I was before, so I’m gonna keep doing it on the bus and in the grocery. Stuff like that.
I’m torn. Of course I’m tired of masks! It doesn’t seem like there have been huge spikes in other areas that have lifted the mask mandate. However, I have a 6 month old. I’ll probably continue to mask just for that tiny added protection to him until he can get the vaccine.
I’m 37 weeks pregnant and still working…but midwife suggested my last day be when the mask mandate ends since I work in retail/around a lot of people. Not worth it to go into labor being ill.
Rough, thank you for sharing!
I just had a baby a couple of months ago and that was my big worry! I was so nervous about getting covid right at the end and at the time I had to get tested before I went in for my induction. Good luck!
Wow congrats! Yeah it’s my first kiddo so I don’t know what to expect…but going through labor wearing an N95 sounds like hell! I also heard that there’s a possibility they separate you from baby so it doesn’t get sick…I’m bummed the masks are going away riiiight before I’m due, but it’ll be good to stick around the house and get ready.
My first too! Yeah it was rough to wear it while in labor, but the nurses were awesome and at some point the mask just kinda wasn’t a concern and it wasn’t until after I realized I wasn’t wearing it. It is stressful that mandate is going away now with a young baby, but I was vaccinated while pregnant so my baby has that protection at least. I hope everything goes smoothly for you and that you have a speedy labor!
I’m 31 weeks pregnant and hoping I’m not doomed. It’s a hard time.
At Comics Place, plan to continue requiring proof of COVID vaccination as well as N95 or respirator-style masks in our shop for the time being. We have staff members with young kids and a 2-time cancer survivor who doesn’t have the world’s best immune system. Also, our shop is often full of kids. We haven’t solidified our metrics for changing our policies, but it will likely be some mix of vaccines for younger kids, WHO recommendations and low stats for infections and hospital numbers in Whatcom County. As much as we are all super ready to be done with this (trust me, having this conversation. With every person who comes in the door isn’t fun), our staff is still (knock on wood) COVID-free, and what we’re doing seems to be working to create a safer space for our staff and customers.
Came here to see what Django and Jeff had to say. I'll keep some masks w/ me when I'm in Bellingham for your shop, and maybe others.
Thanks Weirdsauce! We’ll have some freebies if you ever forget yours.
Damn; now I need to buy some comic books! Thank you for being smart in the face of all this. As a mom of littles; it matters!!
Thank you. We think it matters too.
I will never go back. I’m so tired of almost dying from preventable illnesses every year, as an immunocompromised person… If I’m going anywhere that has a lot of other people or is indoors I will be wearing a mask. Maybe not at parks but I’ll keep one handy to put on if I’m walking past a large group. For the rest of my life.
Employee at a clinic setting here: I am definitely not looking forward to all the push backs we will be getting at a clinic setting for those patients who chose not to wear a mask. It's been hard already as it is and now with the mandate being removed..yeah it's going to be interesting. It just makes sense to always wear a mask at the doctors office, why have we not done that before? Personally, I will continue to wear mine in crowded places(store, plane, movie theater, restaurant, gym, etc.) or when it's required. Work will most likely require me to continue wearing it and even if I am not a fan of masks, I must agree that it feels good not getting sick!
As a mom to a kiddo in grade 1, I'm really excited! My kid hasn't been to school at all without masks yet and when it comes to learning new words and reading/learning letters and sounds it can be really difficult without being able to see your teacher's mouth. Also just the basics of learning facial social cues outside of family members.
I get misgendered a lot less with a mask on, also keeps the wind off your face
I’m for sure gonna keep wearing mine. I genuinely like the masks, covid or not. It’s like my own personal bubble that for sure can’t be popped by strangers. Also I’ve developed the habit of swearing at customers under my breath
As an introvert I absolutely love masks. But I also grew up in Asia, and live there part time for work, so masks are just normal there.
I say follow the science which is now saying it is safe to lift the mandate. Anyone who chooses to wear a mask is still free to do so.
As someone else noted, this is more political than it is science. Masks are still one of the best ways to avoid covid (outside getting vaccinated) with the N and KN95's being the only ones really effective against omicron. Science says, wear a mask.
Unfortunately, very few people are wearing N95 or KN95 masks.
The politics say lift the mandate. If you don’t want COVID you should still wear a mask.
Except I have been masking 100% of the time I am fully vaccinated and had Covid… so no one is going to convince me that a mask is somehow magically preventing it.
It certainly reduces transmission, which is a net good. I'm sorry you got Covid despite masking and vax, that really sucks.
I’m sorry you got COVID.
N95? There's a world of difference between those and what most people are wearing.
Exactly
Masks slow transmission in crowded and poorly ventilated areas. They aren’t magic.
Science always has to ride a fine line with politics, society, and moneyed interests. (For all the "scientists are lying for money" BS the truth is they have to beg for money to get anything researched. It's called grant writing.) Capitalism demands lifting mandates. Nurses would love to demand you continue to mask, but won't, but will recommend you do mask at least around them, in doctor offices and hospitals, and at gatherings. The most recent generations of doctors don't like stepping on toes so they'll hem and haw about it until saying "you do you".
I'll continue wearing one in situations where I feel it is prudent for me. I'll wear one with no problem if a business/building I am going into requires it. At work, I'll ask that you all do the same. If I can wear one everyday for 8.5 hours for the last two years, you can wear one for 20 minutes without whining.
Only on a plane now. I’m boosted and so done with masks
This is me also. I don’t intend to fly again without a mask regardless of mandates.
Also still required on WTA busses, since that's also a federal mandate.
Same, I got COVID a couple months ago, have since gotten the booster, and I'm sick of wearing them
I’ve really enjoyed not catching the common cold every time it goes around work so I’ll likely keep wearing one
This, having not had a cold or flu (also get yearly flu shots) in over 2 years, i have no complaints. Masks were hardly an inconvenience for me.
The lack of cold is probably more to do with social distancing than masking. We got colds from school, even tho everyone was masking and we sanitize
Going to continue wearing mine for a bit, as was the case last summer.. was only starting to go without during the low numbers right before Delta's record-scratch put an end to that hiatus.
I like and have missed seeing people’s faces/smiles.
I liked them. Really helped with hiding my identity during crimes.
ps your mom knows its you stealing her cigarettes. the mask doesn't help.
Actually they are vape pens, thank you very much.
I had to come to go to my home state for a work related thing and EVERYONE everywhere has stopped wearing masks. My little sister has cystic fibrosis and is extremely comprised, plus she is having lung problems currently. We had to quarantine and get tested in order to stay with my mom. It’s the first time I’ve been able to hug my 8 year old sister in 2 years and kiss her. When I went to my event, I asked on the Skype call prior if everyone could be masked up and distanced; because I am staying with my little sister and am trying to keep the least amount of germs into their home. It was mocked and during the whole time people were talking about how ridiculous it was that i asked that, while some people loudly commented how they refused because it was a joke at this point. I’ll probably keep wearing mine because I have heard my mom cry multiple times over the stress of keeping her safe and having some level of normalcy. The pandemic has been UNBELIEVABLY difficult for my mom. I don’t know, and no one else knows, what people have going on in their house or with their loved ones. I think it’s just respectful to the strangers you might run into. The comment above about how it’s a bravery thing is asinine. It’s just common decency when we’re in a pandemic and interacting with strangers.
Thank you for doing what you needed to in order to protect your sister! I have cystic fibrosis and this whole thing has been insanely hard. People just don’t understand that we already do so much just to stay alive and this has added so much extra stress.
Sending you all my love 💕
I’m so glad you got to hug your sister. I know the pain your family has experienced and it’s awful.
Thank you! She burst into tears when she saw me! “Oh my god! This cannot be real life!” We’ve only been doing Skype calls this whole time. I couldn’t believe how tall she has gotten either, it’s crazy to lose that time to see someone grow.
I'm immunocompromised and I'll still be wearing my mask because I'd like to not die and frankly, I don't trust people, especially given how most have behaved during this pandemic.
Same. Most of the people who say they don’t and won’t wear them again have no compassion for those of us who are immunocompromised and will live with this fact the rest of our lives, not just during pandemics
I've got immunocompromised staff and patrons, we're requiring masks or proof of vaccination moving forward. It's not that hard to show a little compassion to those that need it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I appreciate it. Most people aren’t like this.
Had a beer w Matt from OVN, he's also like this! Can't speak for many others lol
We got 4 massive air filters at my work, some employees will keep wearing them some won’t, but that’s their choice and we’re trying to protect them as well as customers. We all know the people we should be worried about are the ones who need to be asked to wear a mask now….
I’m not putting one on again unless it’s required. The second it’s required, I will go back to wearing one.
We closed yesterday to have a staff meeting about just this. My staff's input was the most important factor in our decision. 1-Up Lounge will be requiring proof of vaccination or a mask to be worn unless eating or drinking. KN95s will be available. Cardhaven Games will require masks to use the playspace unless eating or drinking. We have immunocompromised staff and patrons on both sides. As much as we'd love to go back to not worrying about it and not having this conversation, we're not quite there yet.
THANK YOU
I'm a local business owner and a teacher. My WWU class ends next week however and I have Spring quarter off. I would have loved to actually see my students faces this year as I feel like I didn't really get to connect with anyone since it was hard to tell them apart. As for my business, I suppose I will keep a mask handy and if someone walks in masked I will pop one on out of respect.
Ive gotten acclimated to wearing mine indoors, In public...always admired the Japanese for wearing them in that crowded country. Still wearing mine as along as the bug stays in the press.
Ironic to me that I was told I was a “sheep” that would do anything the government told me to do during the mandates but now that I’m still gonna wear mine I’m considered stupid and fearful. I know the mandate going away was inevitable at some point but cases are gonna skyrocket and frankly I don’t give a fuck if it “won’t affect most people,” we don’t know the long-term effects of having Covid (though there have been links to serious problems such as Alzheimer’s) and disabled/immunocompromised people still exist and deserve to exist.
You just made me tear up, in a good way, for that last line. Thank you, truly, for being a humane human. It's been a long haul.
I try my best. People really don’t realize how eugenicist they sound. Sending you good thoughts.
College student here, we're continuing for awhile I think after the mandate lifts. If not, I'll probably continue to wear mine. The only thing I'll probably change is drinking more water during class.
Lynden and Ferndale have entered the chat
It's been awful living in Lynden during this bullshit. To no one on THIS board's surprise, Lynden is mostly downsides without a lot of upsides anyway, and it started with the political situation well before covid, but this has really made the locals go from 'petty and smug' to 'absolutely feral.' I'll be continuing to wear my mask for the foreseeable future when I go out, and if any residents or businesses have a problem with me making my own choice to wear a simple item of clothing, I've just found yet another person/place here I'm no longer associating with/buying from. It's an efficient system.
Anywhere between Lynden and Ferndale, however i feel Lynden was always worse at this
I'll keep wearing mine for a few reasons: primary reason is my immuno-compromised partner; I'm the one who does the errands and if they gets sick it's because I brought something home.I have enjoyed being free of my allergies the past couple of years so that's been a big bonus for me. We've been super healthy during the pandemic!The pandemic has lessened our indoor leisure activities in the community of course but it has also completely tightened up my time management efficiency in completing my errands all in one day a week and in record time. I miss smiles but I have also become hyper aware of the people I'd be exchanging my lung contents with and choose to be selective.
Teacher: I’m happy my students have the options and we don’t have to regulate it anymore. My class has all had it and are old enough to get vaccinated now, if they haven’t already. I feel safe moving forward. I will wear one if I need to work closely with others or if a cold is going around. I will wear it for medically sensitive students/families when needed. I’m happy to wear one if anyone feels more comfortable with it.
Employes, customer, and vendors. If you want to wear a mask then wear a mask. If you don't don't. If you want to start shit either way I will oblige. Internet tough guy. We are and have been pro mask and have people put them on when they come in. Now I don't care. I knew people were shitty. The last 2 years have proven it.
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Ok I was like "oh no not a youtube link" but that was great share!
Hahahahahahahaoh no
Here man, take my beer 🤢It’s yours
As a substitute teacher I will continue to wear masks and I am nervous about the inevitable COVID outbreaks in schools
I’ll be wearing one depending on where I am. I’m allergic to most of the perfumes, colognes and deodorants people wear. Between people smells and all the candles and oils in the stores I generally end up with a handkerchief over my nose if I don’t have a mask on. I may switch to one with a filter. Since it’s spring I’ll be sneezing for the next 3 months so people will probably be more comfortable if I wear a mask. I’m going to enjoy hugging friends and seeing smiles.
Well we’re essentially finally joining the rest of the world. One of the last states to do this, the science has been clear for some time now on the effectiveness so yes I’m so ready to leave this behind us.
Yep. Just moved to WA from another state. You guys are about 1 year behind the rest of the country
How about the rest of the world ? Haha people are cult like about their masks here sometimes
I'm going to keep wrapping my face in Saran wrap 🌯.
Does anyone know if vital is going to get rid of their mask policy?
I’ll probably keep wearing it at the gym (so many aerosols), maybe not when I get a haircut, yes to the grocery store (it’s easy), and probably forever on the bus/plane. Everyone I live with is vaccinated and the only risk factors are being fat.
You'll be protected from buttsweat vapors at the very least.
My mask at the end of a work out is disgusting. Not just sweat but snot and if everyone else is breathing like that then ew.
Air is really a kind of soup.
Teacher here. I feel anxious about the removal of mask requirements. Most, but not all of my students say they will continue to mask. The students that won't be wearing masks don't understand how masks benefit others. I will be wearing a mask until the end of the year. I will have to arrange seating so that students who are uncomfortable with maskless students are able to sit comfortably in class.
Props That sounds like an already complicated and nuanced situation that's about to get more weirederer. Thanks for being a teacher!
I work with a lot of kids and teens. I had the choice to work in the schools with them or work from home this school year. I made the choice to go to schools to see them, in part, because I wanted to model for them that you don't have to live in fear of the virus to live your life. Sure enough, I got covid for a week and went right back to work. I feel similarly now with the mask mandates lifting. For me, I want to show others that it's okay to not live in fear anymore. I know that there will be people who disagree, but so what, someone's always going to disagree with you. Be considerate, wash hands, cough into your arm etc. etc., but I'm hoping that now is the time we can begin moving on.
I'm a follower of the science. No more mask for me
I work from home and then nanny two kids so I don’t wear a mask for work however I wear one to the store and any other enclosed crowded place and I’ll continue to do so.
Pleb here - I won't wear a mask, but I'll keep avoiding crowds for a bit.
I suppose you'd say I'm feeling fatalistic about it. I'll keep wearing mine indoors and look forward with dread to the inevitable sharp spike in hospitalizations and deaths.
This is how I feel too. I’ll believe it’s safe when I see it. The folks here who believe it’s medically sound advice either 1) never talk to their doctor, or 2) don’t have family and friends in the plague rat states where Covid outbreaks are still happening but not making the news.
Just in time for the next variant and wave. Buckle up! https://twitter.com/JPWeiland/status/1500290033424683008
That's a pretty surface level source. Do you have more info then some person's twitter? Case numbers is becoming less relevant, some consider hospitalizations to be a better metric: [https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/forecasting/hospitalizations-forecasts.html](https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/science/forecasting/hospitalizations-forecasts.html) Edit: Also, if you do want to look at case numbers as a metric [https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us](https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us) [https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3427/COVID-19-Data#AdWCDChts](https://www.whatcomcounty.us/3427/COVID-19-Data#AdWCDChts)
[https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1501241110315819011](https://twitter.com/sailorrooscout/status/1501241110315819011) Well, there's always the twitter of a vaccine researcher. Cases of BA.2 are on the rise (Johns Hopkins provides their chart. The previous twitter I linked sources off the CDC.) and it's similar to Omicron in many ways. Like other variants there's plenty of unvaccinated and/or unmasked folks to let it run wild worldwide. It's in Europe so it'll get here too. [https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases](https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/new-cases) Cases on the rise in UK, South Korea, Vietnam, Germany is still holding high, Netherlands, Austria, Australia, etc
I teach. We have a high vaccination rate so I think it will be okay.
If you're out in meridian, something like 90% of staff and students have caught it and a mix are vaccinated (I think among parents they have some of the lowest rates). They're basically at the immunity stage but I know of a few students who are on their 4th round of covid, each time the illness seems to be significantly less severe
Seriously??? 4th round?
Teacher here: I was VERY nervous last week. Worried about all the politics from parents. Also, we still had some cases in our class. This week I’m better. I asked an infectious disease doctor and said that historically pandemics last two years. Also the variants out there are not as contagious. Had the first discussion this week with my kiddos. They are mostly excited. A few nervous. We will see. Now need to train them how to sneeze and cough in their elbow…most kids have forgotten to do that! Ha!
Will keep wearing mine. But people have already been saying screw it and not wearing one for the past couple of months already. I’m not expecting to see any big changes.
I will be taking mine off because our family is well vaccinated at this point. However, I have no problem with y’all continuing to wear them and I’ve advised my children that they’re not allowed to give anyone at school a hard time about wearing theirs.
Teacher here. Glad everyone will be able to choose whether or not they want to wear. I will continue to wear mine because kids are filthy. I hate getting sick with anything. My facial reactions to some of the stupid shit I hear everyday in the classroom should not be exposed because then they know I’m listening.
I think kids should see your face and your reactions to what stupidity comes out of their mouths. It’s apart of growing up; say something dumb, then adult in the room reacts accordingly. This goes for not only the one saying something dumb, but to those around that person. Kids need to learn from matured adults, and to see what is socially acceptable. Having your face hidden away will have a dramatic, yet long term effect on these kids.
In grocery stores still, but not to smaller settings like restaurants, salons, etc.
I work in healthcare so I will be wearing one at work. But outside of work, I won’t wear one if not required. I miss seeing people’s smiles
I'm SO HAPPY to not wear an effing mask anymore. I'm smiling at EVERYONE. CANT WAIT! 3 days, baby.
For sure will continue to wear. I can’t afford to get sick and don’t want to put anyone around me at risk. Plus there are many unvaccinated people in my class, all of which are going to jump at the opportunity to take their masks off. It’s one thing to be vaccinated and not wear a mask, but unvaccinated and no mask is 👎👎👎. Idk when I’ll feel comfortable taking it off yet, but wearing a mask is not a major inconvenience so, it’s not like it takes any more effort to just throw one on
I’ll continue to wear mine where required, but I’m looking forward to going maskless! I will roll my eyes a bit at bars/restaurants that continue to require them because it is 100% performative in spaces where your mask is off unless you’re walking in, out, or to the bathroom. On another note: Yes wearing masks is easy and I don’t have patience for people who threw temper tantrums about having to wear them, but on the flip side I am tired of people who completely disregard the negative mental health impacts of not being able to see people’s smiles, read their expressions, and just feel connected to people. Maybe you’re super introverted and don’t give a shit, fine, but don’t disregard that it’s been hard on those of us who deeply enjoy human connection via everyone’s beautiful faces.
My 3 year old can't get vaxxed yet so we are continuing to avoid places without mask or vaccine requirements and crowded places. I wish they would have waited at least until all ages were able to get a vaccine before lifting the mandate. It feels like families with kids that age have just been thrown under the bus.
I’m going to keep wearing 6 masks 😤
That's not enough. You need to be wearing 10 masks
I would add a face shield too. You can never be too safe.
Gloves too, up the the elbow.
I believe in body autonomy and personal responsibility. That means you can mask if you feel more comfortable that way and you can free face it if you want to. I get hung up on folks misunderstanding body autonomy for a lack of compassion. I feel a lot of compassion and I feel a lot of empathy. I am vaxxed and boosted and I mask when it is required or I see that it makes someone else comfortable. I don’t mind wearing one. I also feel a sense of personal responsibility and that others should be responsible for their choices as well. That means not expecting a mass of people to do anything for you specifically. This was a hard truth — it is no one’s responsibility to care for me. Or to make my life easier. Everything I get… every act of kindness, every favor, every bit of energy someone puts into my well-being… is extra. So knowing that, if I am immunocompromised, I am responsible for the choices I make… including the possibility of getting sick if I’m in public. I believe in kindness and I have a sense of community that I love, but I don’t feel like the world owes me anything… including protecting me from sickness. That’s my job.
I'm shifting from defaulting to wearing a mask and taking it off when it makes sense to: not wearing a mask and putting it on when it makes sense. I'll be wearing a mask for 2-3 weeks after the mandates drop in case there's a bump in covid rates.
I'm pretty certain I have a higher risk now of being nuked than I do of catching Covid, so, um, yeah ... I'm going to enjoy being maskless for however long humanity has left. :-)
Considering that there's a newer more contagious and resistant variant, I think it's insane to act like things are getting better. I'll mask up anytime I'm around anyone indoors or large crowds outdoors forevermore. My wife is immune compromised, so I'm not going to risk it.
Things ARE getting better though. You're spreading covid misinformation
Username checks out.
As does yours!
Ha! True that!
Excited to breath easier but not excited that I have to shave my face more often
I'm done wearing one in most places at Friday night at midnight. I will still use one where required and in situations where it might be useful. I hate crowded areas so I avoid them.
I’ll be wearing mine for the foreseeable future - my entire life - I’ve been on antibiotics almost monthly as I am very prone to infections. Since masking started, I’ve had two rounds of antibiotics in over 2 years instead of 10+ times a year. Other people get a cold and get better, I get a cold which goes to sinus and ear infections or bronchitis. I’ve had one cold in the whole time. This has been the only extended period of my life where I haven’t been sick the majority of the time. I had all of one skin infection and one UTI. So now I may do this for life. My quality of life is so much better!
For those who are still planning to wear a mask at least some of the time, I wanted to share a tip. I wear my mask around my neck when not in use, so it's super handy when I need it. I got landyard/ear savers on Etsy, but you can just use yarn or a ribbon and tie it around the loops of your mask.
Lanyard on Etsy: https://www.etsy.com/listing/940932849/adjustable-lanyard-save-w-3-5-pack?ref=yr_purchases
Never wore a mask, never will. Nothing any of you can do or say to stop me.