General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFully vaccinated, and keeping my mask on
when I go into stores and such. I think it is still too soon for them to be coming off, and thought so before the W.H.O. said so. I am sorry that my own governor in Michigan seems to have worn out under all the anti-mask pressure, and let that requirement lapse.
"Only the un-vaccinated need to wear masks?" Those were all the people who have resisted it from the beginning. Do I now expect they will be honest about it? No, I do not.
Anyway, I'm used to wearing it, and there seems to have been a side benefit. I usually gets colds or flu a couple times a year... and I have not caught anything since this whole thing started. Sometimes when I got sick, I was befuddled as to how I had been exposed, as I had hardly been around anyone... My conclusion was that I caught it at the grocery store, perhaps from germs left on a shopping cart. Now of course I have been sanitizing hands and cart handles... I may be vaccinated for COVID, but I have not had a flu vaccine in years...
So, will the anti-maskers support my "freedom" to keep wearing my mask?
They may think I am making some "political statement" by keeping it on. If so, they are partly right.
The other part is to protect myself from them-- as the vaccine is not a 100-percent solution.
MiniMe
(21,676 posts)I've seen things that "they" are putting up down south I think that say masks not allowed in establishments. It is none of their business if I want to wear a mask. Especially with the Delta variant around. I'm not taking chances.
I_UndergroundPanther
(12,450 posts)Period. No one can tell me when I feel safe.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)I'll likely keep the mask on for years, at least.
Plus, it keeps out pollen, dust, influenza, etc.
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)When covid is totally eradicated ?
Never?
At what point will you feel comfortable enough to resume life as it used to be?
DemocraticPatriot
(4,170 posts)Maybe I will ALWAYS wear a mask into the grocery store from now on-- as it seemed to be where I was catching my other illnesses.
Anyway, with it, I don't have to shave so often. lol
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)But I no longer wear a mask for covid because I no longer feel worried about catching it.
Each person will have to assess what their risk tolerance is.
Some may never go back to mallees interactions in public.
Thats fine. Its a free country.
At least until the next election.
elias7
(3,976 posts)You say youre not worried about catching Covid, but I believe CDC guidance will be changing again soon in response to WHO latest recs. Keep yourself safe
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)I have followed the science.
I am fully vaccinated.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Calculating
(2,954 posts)Gotta catch a cold every now and then to keep it on its toes. We're meant to be exposed to constant low level threats, it's why children raised in too clean of an environment develop allergies/asthma/etc.
DemocraticPatriot
(4,170 posts)LisaL
(44,962 posts)Not when variants are spreading.
Hugin
(32,778 posts)Never.
Have at it.
Skittles
(152,964 posts)just NOT YET
Throck
(2,520 posts)The mask is the solution to prevent giving it.
The virus is small and easily gets through the oversized pours in the fabric of mask.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)NT
SoCalDavidS
(9,998 posts)They started to be banned, but now I can protect myself once again.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)I purchased some too, before we were told not to wear them. But now I can dig them out and put them on. Now I can be more comfortable and still highly protected.
SoCalDavidS
(9,998 posts)Obviously much easier to breathe out of, yet still N95. I may buy some more. I only bought a box of 10, since they became crazy expensive. Then I gave several away to family & friends, so only have 3 left.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)NT
Bobstandard
(1,279 posts)The typical mask may always have been more effective against giving than getting the virus but it has always given the wearer some protection.
I had someone confront me about wearing my mask just day before yesterday and I told him honestly that It was to protect me from the assholes who refuse to get vaccinated. And then I said, why, what business is it of yours? He skittered off down the chips and soda aisle.
DemocraticPatriot
(4,170 posts)which DO also offer a good degree of protection to the user.
I can tell how good it is, because it is harder to breathe... lol but it is a small inconvenience for the short periods I feel I need to wear it.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)uponit7771
(90,225 posts)obnoxiousdrunk
(2,906 posts)TDale313
(7,820 posts)Murphyb849
(569 posts)Laffy Kat
(16,354 posts)At the grocery store this afternoon I was one of a very few still wearing a mask. Even though I'm fully vaccinated, I don't plan on not wearing one in public any time soon.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)Considering less than fifty % in my state are vaccinated, the math here doesn't add up. I really doubt all of those in the store without masks were vaccinated.
NJCher
(35,423 posts)Just about everyone is still wearing a mask. We have a high vaccination rate, too.
SheltieLover
(57,073 posts)Except it's only the workers amd me in masks.
JCMach1
(27,544 posts)Another infection could kill me and my 10yo is too young to get vaccine
Crunchy Frog
(26,548 posts)I'm more relaxed outdoors, though still have a mask around my neck in case I feel that I need it.
If anyone here wants to mock me, or get all incredulous about it, I'll just put them on ignore.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)If shopping at Publix on a Saturday with big crowds I put it on. But on a Wednesday morning with no one I dont.
The news plays up the dramatic. But if you are fully vaccinated you have a tiny chance of going to the hospital with Covid. Regardless of the variant.
Went to a brewery today. Very well spaced tables. I was comfortable with no mask.
All three of us are fully vaccinated.
I do worry about the wife who is over 60(barely) and had the J&J. Which Is not as good as the mRNA vaccines. But she is not concerned. And she has no co- morbidities. She recently had a very young manager that works for her assume she was in her late 40s! Without knowing she has 39 years with the same company!
wnylib
(21,146 posts)of going tto the hospitsl with covid."
I'd add a qualifier for that statement. If you are fully vaccinated, under 65, and have no comorbidities, the chsnce of going to the hospital with covid are tiny.
But, of the deaths and hospitalizations that have occured in vaccinated people, 76% were over 65. If they also have comorbidities, their risk is even higher.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)As expected older folks are more at risk. Co-Morbidities increase the risk.
But the fact remains. Over 90% of hospitals cases of Covid are unvaccinated. Actually much higher than that. 97%.
If everyone took the vaccine we would have no real issues.
We are fully vaccinated. Healthy.
Careful where its called for.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)I just think that people like myself should be more aware that, for us, risks do exist after vaccination and we should take reasonable precautions.
Jon King
(1,910 posts)We are a vaccinated family, eat healthy, get up early each morning to exercise. So we enjoy life now....like to see smiling faces, talk to people without masks blocking them, smell the fresh bread at the bakery.
But to each their own. Looking at the causes of death and disability...obesity, sedentary life style, over stressing about stuff., some driver texting and causing an accident...getting the virus and having a serious consequence once vaccinated is pretty far down on the list.
Not sure why some on this forum seem obsessed with the virus....its dropped far down the list of things that kill Americans these days.
Lucky Luciano
(11,242 posts)When we go to restaurants, we only eat outside since my son is under 12 and cant be vaccinated and we dont know what long term consequences there can be even if he were asymptomatic.
I will probably mask up during flu season to protect others, but Im not afraid of personally getting sick. Eight years ago is the last time I had any kind of sniffles
before that, I was once sick about 22 years ago
.and three years before that I was totally blasted by something. Before that, in college and high school, I only faked illness, but I dont recall actually getting sick. However, I will wear a mask in the winter if it means I may slow the spread of the flu which does kill about 30k people per year on average!
DemocraticPatriot
(4,170 posts)more than 600k people in the last year, in this country alone--- and is mutating and not near finished--
but "to each their own".
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)You ol either believe in science or you dont.
LisaL
(44,962 posts)NT
MichMan
(11,786 posts)If the expectation is 100%, that would probably be the safest choice for those with that criteria
LisaL
(44,962 posts)going out as normal, no mask, no social distancing, attending large gatherings and so on.
There is no middle ground here.
MichMan
(11,786 posts)70-98% sure, but like you said, the vaccine isn't 100%
LisaL
(44,962 posts)NT
MichMan
(11,786 posts)An obsession with trying to guarantee a risk free life isn't feasible or healthy
If someone else wants to wear a mask 24/7, a full haz mat suit, or stay locked up in their house is none of my concern.
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)I roll my eyes when I hear people I know who live sedentary, unhealthy lives go on about simple precautions and the health risks even after being vaccinated. Do what you want, but if you were that worried about taking simple precautions you would put down the Pepsi and go for a walk.
BannonsLiver
(16,161 posts)Either because theyve developed Stockholm Syndrome, dont want to go back to the office or they like the ready made excuse not to socialize, which I admit Ive done. And finally, there are some who hope it kills off a bunch of Trump humpers.
Postal Grunt
(214 posts)I'm fully vaxxed myself but I'm still wearing a mask almost everywhere. I can walk into all sorts of places with a mask, polarized shades, and a Tilley hat on, including banks and liquor stores. I know that it's kind of juvenile to enjoy it but after the last 16 months, I need to catch up on having a little fun. Since Missouri is just a few miles away across the river and Delta on the rise there, that might become a necessity quite soon.
roamer65
(36,739 posts)llashram
(6,265 posts)lark
(23,003 posts)If it's crowded, I usually go away and look for someplace less crowded or wait for a less crowded time. I am retired, so it's much easier for me as I can go when others are working and avoid the Friday night, Sat. shopping of so many of the working class.
We aren't flying anywhere and aren't cruising and aren't going to movies or any events with large crowds. We are considering going to a movie during a Tuesday day when hubby is off, so there's not many people there, when there's something we really want to see. We're renewing our passports, and I'm told that now takes a long time. Once we have updated versions, we will see if it's safe to go back to Europe or if New Zealand will let us in then. For now, we plan on driving to places of high vaccination rates for our vacations. We're going to the Keys in Aug. for hubby birthday and want to look into river trips in NE for the fall.
I'm really hoping that by 2022 we can go to the Jazz Fest in NO. LA is a disaster in vaccinating their folks, so not wanting to travel there now.
Atticus
(15,124 posts)"amazing" is the best I can manage.