do you expect the return of mask mandates and restrictions in your area?

[pstokely]

I don't expect them anywhere without any CDC recommendations, they had them here while there weren't any in the rest of the states, and vax rates are higher (but not really that great) here than compared to the rest of the state without hotspots the places where it would be easiest to put them already have high vax rates, it would have been easier just to leave them in

[KentuckyWoman]

1. The very people who whined about "Government can't tell me what to do"

are the same ones now saying "The Government says we don't need them anymore, so I won't"

People who look at the data in their area and make a decision about what precautions to take in a given situation will continue to do so. The people who don't give a damn never will. Mandates won't change that.

[LSparkle]

2. I'm in L.A. County and I'm afraid yes I do

Kids are due back in schools in about a month but I’m afraid that’s going to coincide with a spike post-July 4th. I’d just reveled in taking off my mask outdoors and thought I could go to my local market maskless since I’m fully vaccinated but now I’m back to wearing a mask indoors everywhere and I’m seeing a lot of people doing the same, even without a mandate ... but I think that may be coming.

[LakeArenal]

3. No.

[Amishman]

36. agreed, I think the infection and fatality rates would have to pass the worse point of the pandemic

I think the public overall is burned out and not willing to sacrifice further

[FBaggins]

4. Not unless things get much worse -And they haven't been.

Infection rates in the state are still declining (about 5% of the peak) and death rates are down into the single digits - and that's with virtually no restrictions and hardly anyone wearing masks.

[SoCalDavidS]

12. The Effects Of Lifting Restrictions Are Just Starting To Be Felt

We haven't even gotten to the impact of July 4. Has everyone forgotten about the incubation period, and the time it takes for symptoms to get bad?

I think we'll know by the end of July, which way this is going.

[FBaggins]

24. That was two months ago here

It was four and a half months ago in Texas.

The incubation period was never that long and the Delta variant is reportedly shorter

The vaccines are working.

[LisaL]

32. Delta variant is only now becoming dominant in many of the states.

NT

[FBaggins]

42. So? Overall numbers continue to remain low

Delta is replacing other variants as "dominant", but that doesn't change my "Not unless things get much worse -And they haven't been" - because there hasn't been any evidence that Delta will make things "get much worse".

Delta has been dominant in the UK for some time now and, even though their infection rate has surged, they haven't seen dramatic increases in deaths even two months later (when the lag used to be 2-3 weeks)

[dweller]

5. Yes

I’m going to lead the way …

✌🏻

[David__77]

6. Not so long as vaccinated people are largely protected.

No way- certainly not here in California. Perhaps in certain jurisdictions in the state- not the state as a whole.

[SoCalDavidS]

13. California Is Only At 51% Fully Vaccinated

And is not projected to reach 70% until December 5.

That means 1 in every 2 people is not vaccinated. Yet 100% of them are likely going about life as normal.

I had started to feel optimistic, that things would be fine, but I'm back to pessimism I think.

[moonscape]

16. In my county we're about 60% fully

vaxxed and 70% partially. The very conservative counties bring the numbers down, bur I feel fairly safe here. Folks were slow to take off masks but gradually were. There is a noticeable difference since all the Delta press. Seems the percentage of masks in stores has ticked up a bit.

I never stopped with my mask indoors though I was feeling relaxed finally to be able to be out ‘ about. I’m expecting my community to be pretty responsible should our numbers go the wrong direction. Delta has shown up here so we’ll see.

[mucifer]

7. In my state 50% of the entire population is fully vaccinated. Cases are growing vaccinations aren't

despite the state and local government pleading and having a lottery. We are a blue state so I think we will have a mandate and maybe even another shutdown.

[Hoyt]

8. More likely to push for vaccinations here. The rubes don't like masks.

[GulfCoast66]

9. Hah! Florida never had a mandate. Counties could. Mine never did.

And a few months ago the Governor did an executive order and now no government can do mask mandates.

That said my part of the county was very good about wearing masks and now has a very good vaccination rate. I wear mine selectively. Publix on a Tuesday morning with few people and easy to stay 10 feet away from others I don’t. On a busy Saturday where it is packed I’ve started wearing it again. At those times I see more masks than 3 weeks ago. People are taking Delta seriously. Well, not the trumpers, but they only wore them because the stores made them. And lots of republicans here are vaccinated because of the retirement communities. These older folks, Democratic or Republican remember before vaccines. And were the most likely to die. We are seeing a higher percentage of young people get it in large part because all the old folks are vaccinated. My wife’s aunt lives in an assisted living community. Not a nursing home. They have a restaurant, bar and cafe/ice cream parlor. They are 100% vaccinated. Visitors still have to wear masks in common areas but not in their loved ones apartment.

[QED]

10. We can't require them in schools, thanks to our red Leg. and Governor

Governor is too chicken to take a stand on anything. Vaccinations in my county are about 50% last I checked and worse in the area where I teach. We couldn't get the kids to wear their masks properly when they were mandated. Great chin guards.

I dread going back in a couple of weeksa.

[Ms. Toad]

11. I expect a surge, including among vaccinated people.

How the government will respond - I don't know. I have a feeling it is going to be very ugly this fall.

[SoCalDavidS]

14. I Wish I Could Sit Here And Argue With You

But you're probably closer to reality than one would hope.

How do you think that's going to go over, given the fact we're a fractured country? And the fact a sizable % refuse to change a single thing about their actions.

[Ms. Toad]

18. That's why I'm not sure what the government will do.

There isn't any real enforcement mechanism for mask wearing, outside of limited areas (admission to paid venues - cruise ships, airplanes, etc.), and people were starting to toss the masks even before the CDC announcement, even in areas where masks were theoretically madated. It really is impossible to govern those who choose not to be governed - as a general rule.

And - there are enough on DU who had been cooperating - who are now in the "don't you dare suggest I wear a mask" camp, so the government will be trying to impose masking & social distancing on an even larger body of resistant folks. Dr. Fauci (& the CDC) will have to get a lot more pushy about the need to wear masks before there will be much cooperation - even among a substantial number who are ordinarily inclined to pay attention to science and caring for others.

So - I'm expecting disaster around the time school starts. The university I teach at has put all the chairs back in the classroom and issued mandates to all students to attend in person, while simultaneously relying on the honor system to ensure those who aren't vaccinated are wearing masks. I've only seen masks on 4 staff/faculty, and in a handful of students who put them on in my presence.
And, I don't really expect the unvaccinated to wear masks properly, even if they put them on (and it is even more critical to wear them properly with the Delta variant). It probably won't get quite as bad as the Nov-Jan surge, but I won't be surprised if it is a close second. I expect lots of kids, and a fair number of vaccinated adults will join the vaccine rejectors among the sk.

It's too early for me to have a firm guess as to dates (and the variant mix is changing too rapidly). But I don't like the trends I'm seeing.

I'm pretty discouraged.

[LisaL]

29. Yep.

Per Pfizer, vaccine provided immunity decreases after six months.
And our government says they are not planning to boost right now. We already have people who are at 6 months, and would need boosting.
And there will be a lot more people in the fall who need boosting.
But there are no plans to boost them.
So vaccinated will start being infected as well.

[Ms. Toad]

40. I still haven't had time to sort through the massive dust storm kicked up last week . . .

Maybe this week, when I need a break from essay grading.

[gratuitous]

15. Oregon's right around 70% with at least one shot

The Delta Variant hasn't begun to rip through the unvaccinated population, but I think it will in the next couple of weeks. We could be going back to mandates and restrictions quite soon.

[Yavin4]

17. What good would mask mandates and other restrictions do at this point?

It's all about the vaccines now. Imposing mask mandates and other restrictions is not going to make someone get vaccinated. Also, in those pockets with high cases, they won't mandate masks or enforce other restrictions.

[pstokely]

20. they might be more theater in the higher vaxxed communities

it might more some feel more comfortable

[LisaL]

30. Vaccines are only one layer of protection and they are not perfect.

NT

[JI7]

19. It mostly depends on availability of Hospital beds which is how it was before

As long as the medical services can handle things not much will be done. It's when they start running out of space and needing to turn away people that usually results in the mandates and other restrictions.

[SoCalDavidS]

21. Yeah, A Certain Amount Of Deaths Is Fine

Just so long as a manageable number are getting hospitalized and dying, there's no need to be concerned.

I mean, 1,000 deaths a day isn't so bad, when we had 4,000 just a few months ago.

And yes, I'm being sarcastic.

[Bucky]

22. As much as it would please me to hear about the Trump family wearing prison stripes

One thing we should have all learned from the antics of Mr Giuliani over the last 12 months is that the legal justice system is not a welcoming venue for improvisational theatrics.

Poorly informed people chanting for lockups is a hallmark of people who despise democracy. Let's not become our enemy.

[DET]

23. The more things change...

I’m getting pretty discouraged. Most people in Northern Virginia were compliant with mask mandates and they did not complain. But now almost no one is wearing masks anymore. If it’s this bad here (with a high vaccination rate), I can only imagine how much worse it must be in other parts of the country. I am really concerned that this false sense of complacency in the face of more virulent strains of the virus will lead to a resurgence of the pandemic. The CDC screwed up; I wish they’d admit it.

[Raine]

25. Here in Los Angeles County they never really went away. nt

[marie999]

26. NC no

[MissMillie]

27. Our state has a high vaccination rate

So I don't think Gov. Baker will be looking to bring back mask mandates--yet.

Unfortunately, our local area has a lower vaccination rate than the state and a local mandate will never fly.

[Hugin]

28. Even if people are falling dead in the streets... No.

The Oligarchs have asserted themselves from the safety of their enclaves.

That said, I don't think most of the unvaccinated at this point would follow those protocols anyway. However, my plan is to resume the protocols when the numbers reach a dangerous level again. If this means a disagreement with my employer, f**k them. As usual in the US, it's YOYO. (You're On Your Own)

[haele]

31. Maybe, depends on how well the state or locality can handle the Qs and MAGAs

Along with the host of supposed adults with the maturity of daycare participants.
You know, the "I don't wanna, you can't make me, you're trampling on my rights" crowd of privileged self-absorbed knuckleheads. The ones who are the reason we can't have nice things.

Haele

[Chakaconcarne]

33. Nope... the vaccines are showing efficacy against the variants

and where it is spreading most is in heavily non-vaccinated (by choice) areas.

[MineralMan]

34. That depends. I have an appointment with a banker this morning

in Minnesota. The bank requires masks to be worn inside its lobby area, so I'll be wearing one, despite being fully vaccinated. Different places have different requirements.

[Wingus Dingus]

35. No, I don't think so, unless things got really bad.

[róisín_dubh]

37. All restrictions are set to lift in the UK...

yet I will still wear a mask on public transport and in the supermarket. I'm fully vaccinated. I'm hopeful that if the US doesn't start doing boosters in the Fall (I'm returning to the States next month), that the UK will and I can get one here in December when I'm due for one.

But, I'm returning to WV as I said next month and my university has no vaccine or mask mandate. It's also unclear if faculty can require masks for students who visit our offices. I've already told my boss I'm teaching in a mask and if students complain they can drop my classes.

[LisaL]

38. Yep, UK is set to lift restrictions while their cases are skyrocketing.

Maybe not such a good idea. I am hoping for a booster in the fall too (I don't buy CDC's assurances that we don't need one).

[bigtree]

39. more people will need to die before this republican governor reverses course

...there won't be any real preemptive measures ramped back up in my state, other than vacs, unless or until people start dying in numbers.

No lessons learned, at all. Just this under the rug sweeping drumbeat.

[Raftergirl]

41. I think

it is going to get so bad in many red states that their Republican governors are going to have no choice but to mandate vaccination. I think we will start seeing this in about 1 month.

Delta is going to get every unvaccinated person and they are the majority in many red states.

People who are vaccinated will voluntarily go back to wearing masks (many of us never stopped) because they are not stupid.

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

43. Vegas area, Yes, I would expect it...

Fully vaxed here (65yo, losing weight).

The crowds from LA and across the country are once again heading to Las Vegas.

What they bring to Vegas, doesn't stay here as the unvaxed bring it in, get it here, and take it home with them

I would be please to be completely wrong!