Nothing seems to be more controversial at this moment than whether or not to wear a mask in public. Last week the CDC relaxed the masking guidelines. Initially, they said it is OK to not wear a mask while outdoors in non-crowded settings. There was nothing terribly new about this. All of the science supported not wearing mask in that type of scenario. However the next day they unexpectedly announced that for those who were fully vaccinated, it was OK to not wear a mask in many indoor settings.
The following link is the CDCs page regarding masking recommendations.
While these recommendations are what we have been wanting in order to get back to a normal pre-covid life, many people will be hesitant to immediately takeoff the mask. Many will still choose to wear masks in higher risk situations particularly an indoor settings such as shopping malls, restaurants and grocery stores – and that is completely OK. Personally I feel comfortable with no mask in virtually all outdoor settings. The risk of Covid spread in the outdoors is very minimal. However I will still likely wear a mask when I go into the grocery store or other indoor setting—at least for a little while until the numbers of infections continue to go down and numbers of vaccinations continues to go up. Maybe the CDC is right that the science says that removing masks for those vaccinated and resuming normal day-to-day activities within bounds of local regulations is scientifically verified. However there still is something to be said about allowing more time to heal some of the wounds and anxiety that all of us share regarding the past 15 months. Collectively we have been through a lot as a nation and world. We excepted a new normal with social distancing, masking and perhaps being a little less social with everyone around us out of necessity. Even as guidelines have relaxed, it will take time for us to except this new new normal. And that’s OK.
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