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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsWhen will you stop wearing mask ?
Store manager told me mask was voluntary as i put on mask on store entry. I replied that i was continuing to wear one. everyone in store had on mask but manager. When will you stop wearing mask?
66 votes, 8 passes | Time left: Unlimited | |
Already stopped wearing mask | |
32 (48%) |
|
Never | |
28 (42%) |
|
When cdc announces no longer necessary | |
5 (8%) |
|
When i see most people no longer wearing | |
1 (2%) |
|
8 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided. | |
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Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll |
Dial H For Hero
(2,971 posts)Demovictory9
(32,324 posts)USALiberal
(10,877 posts)Dial H For Hero
(2,971 posts)NCjack
(10,279 posts)tenderfoot
(8,424 posts)It's been nice not having a cold or the flu for almost 3 years.
Airline travel - big time mask. I've gotten some of the worst bugs due to flying.
634-5789
(4,175 posts)SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)Once the CDC released extensive data showing that I had a less than 1% chance of severe illness.
democratsruletheday
(459 posts)I'm with Sooner Pride...CDC has said it's ok so I took it off yesterday for first time in almost 2 years (work at a high school in Michigan) Feels strange but good......yes I'm vaxxed and boosted
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)Hi there
USALiberal
(10,877 posts)SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)When the science says it was unneeded then I stopped.
Virtue signalling isn't for me.
beaglelover
(3,441 posts)wnylib
(21,146 posts)crossed my mind since the start of the pandemic.
I wear one now for the same reason as when I first started to in 2020 - age and 2 health conditions. I am vaccinated and boosted, both times with Moderna. But seniors are more vulnerable to break through infections. I am a senior
I will stop wearing one when I feel safe enough from getting infected. That time has not come for me yet.
SoonerPride
(12,286 posts)Because I am statistically no longer in danger.
For those that have compromised immune systems or advanced age then by all means wear a mask.
No one is stopping you.
But there is no reason for me to wear one whatsoever.
Maeve
(42,224 posts)Shopping in rural store, no one is masked and neither was I. In the city where clerks are masked, so am I. As the area's covid rate falls, so does my mask wearing. Vaxxed and boosted of course.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)The exact reverse of your logic.
Maeve
(42,224 posts)Felt your way when the virus was rampant and I was in an auto parts store, less so now that the crisis has receded locally.
lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)But now, it's increasing every week: cases, hospitalizations, deaths are all up.
I'll be masked for a few more years, I expect.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)BlueTsunami2018
(3,461 posts)I dont wear it at work though. Kind of makes me wonder why Im doing it at all. Its just a habit now. Ill probably continue on with it for the foreseeable future. I kind of like it.
Patterson
(1,525 posts)hunter
(38,264 posts)I like that.
Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)I've been vaccinated and had a mild bout of Omicron in early January.
hlthe2b
(101,730 posts)directly, should she wind up in an ER, and that she should be very thankful that I will continue to take precautions. She looked a little chastened and muttered a quiet "thank you" with all the sincerity of a Trumper/RWer trying to feign empathy.
bullimiami
(13,043 posts)grocery mixed mask wearing, gym - i was pretty much the only one.
im also vaxxed and boosted and had it mild bout last month. so i 'should' be full of antibodies.
still, i dont want to invite it back.
lame54
(35,141 posts)lagomorph777
(30,613 posts)Probably several years away, at this point.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)wnylib
(21,146 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 2, 2022, 12:39 PM - Edit history (1)
8% of Americans are now infected with the new omicron variant. This variant is more infectious and causes more serious illness than the original omicron. It doubles within a week, so it will be the new dominant strain within a few months.
EDIT TO CORRECT ERROR. In human studies it has not been found to cause more serious disease than the original omicron, although it is more contagious.
CentralMass
(15,265 posts)Ace Rothstein
(3,109 posts)wnylib
(21,146 posts)that I had from early news reports was based on lab tests on animals. But in humans, so far it shows no increase in hospitalizations. Also, people who have had the original omicron seem to have some cross protection against BA.2.
MineralMan
(146,192 posts)until there's nobody in hospitals on ventilators.
I'm 76 years old. I'm not ready to die yet, so I'll be protecting myself as best I can. I'm vaccinated and boosted, and will probably get another booster when it's available. But, masking in public places is not a hardship for me, so I'll continue doing that.
nini
(16,670 posts)especially indoors with a lot of others too close to me. I decided no colds and flu is worth wearing one.
They don't bother me a bit.
Runningdawg
(4,496 posts)But I continue to wear one in most public places where I am likely to encounter a group of OK's science deniers; gas stations, liquor stores, farm supply...I haven't been in a supermarket or large retail store since the beginning.
A dispensary I visit still requires them. It's a small shop, I've never seen another customer in there, but more power to them.
JustAnotherGen
(31,688 posts)I'm more concerned about the next variant. I'll keep it on outside for now.
My final answer? When my toddler and infant great nieces and nephews are vaccinated. I mask - so I can see them.
phylny
(8,353 posts)I take care of my granddaughter. We have kept her safe - with the exception of the cold her dad gave her, that I'm sure she gave me yesterday.
Wingus Dingus
(8,049 posts)I can neither give nor receive Omicron anymore, and there's no Delta around.
Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)You are aware that people have had multiple infections with COVID, generally, and omicron, specifically.
https://fortune.com/2022/02/22/omicron-reinfection-catch-twice-new-version-more-contagious/
Wingus Dingus
(8,049 posts)I'm not going to wear a mask forever because of a very small risk of getting infected by the other omicron sub variant.
Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)That is not accurate.
Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)if one is comfortable with 99.9974% probability of being correct...
Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)with whether you are comfortaable with the risk you are taking..
Your statement was not accurate. Regardless of whether you are willing to take the risk, you can get or give omicron.
And - remember the miniscule breakthrough infection statistics coming out of LA that everyone (likely including you) insisted that proved vaccines, alone, prevented infection? This brand new data out of Denmark is like that early-in-time data out of LA was. Over time, if omicron or its subvariants stick around, the % of people reinfected will grow. It's just basic math.
Zeitghost
(3,796 posts)Somebody else did. I only pointed out that the % is so minuscule that the term accurate was acceptable. Accuracy is a spectrum and being 99.9974% accurate is acceptable to most. Apparently you have higher standards...
Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)I didn't check to make sure yo were the same person responded.
As to accuracy, see the comment about the miniscule risk of breakthorugh infections (based on very early data), which - as I predicted - turned out to be dramatically wrong. This is similarly early data for reinfection by omicron. Reinfections only grow over time - so the early data will be low. Whether it will be as far off as the early breakthrough infection data - I don't know. But I do know that the presence of reinfections now, in the first study, means that the reinfection rate is higher than the numbers reported early on.
Backseat Driver
(4,339 posts)mask wearing, i.e., the question regarding how likely would one encounter an ill stranger whose history of receipt of vaccine/booster or personal hygiene is unknown. It could be as dangerous to your health as the likelihood one might encounter a drunk uninsured driver on a crowded vehicle interstate or major highway, city or rural, despite the weather and/or your confidence in controlling your defensive driving/in-public accident avoidance abilities or their bad DUI or bad health choices for themselves or in protecting others!
I have pre-existing conditions that MIGHT make me, personally, more vulnerable to this infectious disease. Because DH has a job with an employer that has taken and provides considerable public precautions, he is the "runner" of most errands. We have continued wearing masks for all indoor errands. We do not wear masks when we visit with close family as we are confident they would come forward in the case of symptoms and/or exposure as well as their personal habits in their homes. All other visitors to our home must be masked for now and possibly for a longer term than recommended by public government officials AND the CDC who may be impacted by biased political concerns.
I continue to use best judgments toward science and health, i.e., vaccines and nutrition, supplemental vitamins, sleep, and exercise as well as decreasing systemic inflammation (a body stressor) to increase personal immunity.
In addition, I no longer have close continual night time co-sleeping/breathing with DH with general sinus issues. Safe kissing/contact is allowed - There are no major marital problems - It's my older 10-year old medicated doggie is sick and must be kept calm and quiet in recovery. She is happiest where I am, so I am happiest where she is capable of being near me because she can't climb steps or even play without pain and stress, and I promised her a forever home and my love. Without perhaps 4 expensive surgeries or treatments, her prognosis is about two years. We are willing to make sacrifices, emotionally and financially, to meet her needs, and, understand, she has not yet told me she no longer wants to live but I cannot yet let her go across the bridge or to a rescue that only might allow her longer life somewhere else through long periods of surgury, physical therapy, and special diets.
In the past two years, I have self quarantined for possible exposure twice. We have followed both recommended protocols and personal health beliefs to the best of our abilities. To my knowledge, both of us have successfully avoided infection. I'd feel better if more had been convinced about the efficacy of vaccines - SMH...so, despite new recommendations, have mask will travel - use TBD per confidence in that situation. LOL, feel the same about daily clean underwear! No one should tell me I don't need to wear a recently laundered pair daily - that's my choice!
Demovictory9
(32,324 posts)LastDemocratInSC
(3,625 posts)rsdsharp
(9,042 posts)that didnt involve a medical appointment of some kind. At this point, all of my medical providers require masks, soooooo it will be at least some period of time after they drop the requirement.
It hasnt been lost on me that every time they loosen requirements covid gains ground. I think Ill wait awhile.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)Last edited Wed Mar 2, 2022, 12:35 PM - Edit history (1)
It is in the US now and is more contagious than the original omicron. As people put aside their masks, it will spread.
NOTE: Edited to remove erroneous statement about it causing more serious illness.
beaglelover
(3,441 posts)You are deliberately spreading misinformation.
wnylib
(21,146 posts)I posted the earlier one, BEFORE you pointed out that it is not more serious in studies of people.
No deliberate intent to spread misinformation. I spend a lot of time debunking misinformation, both deliberate and accidental. I will edit both for the sake of accuracy.
beaglelover
(3,441 posts)wnylib
(21,146 posts)the mistake, but have no thanks to give for your own mistake in accusing me of deliberately spreading misinformation.
Before jumping to accusations, you might consider that sometimes errors are simply that - mistakes without deliberate intent.
Early on, there were some reports that BA.2 is more serious than the original strain. Those reports were based on animal studies. Since then, studies of infected humans do not show a higher rate of hospitalizations. That's the latest info to date.
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/omicron-subvariants-ba-1-vs-ba-2-what-the-latest-data-says
radicalleft
(478 posts)or hair appointment or pharmacy or whatever for two years? That's hardcore right there!
rsdsharp
(9,042 posts)To get vaccinated at their pharmacy. I got my booster at the same store in a drive up line.
I would have limited my outings in any case, but most of my hard core has been due to health problems coupled with the fact that my drivers license has expired, and I cant get it renewed until I have a cataract removed.
radicalleft
(478 posts)Thanks for the reply...I'm glad you are still able to take care of the things that make your life better and hope that you can get that surgery soon!
eissa
(4,238 posts)Considering we were one of the first to impose them, it's been heavenly to finally walk around without one after nearly two years, especially with this nice weather we're having. Although the state university I work at still requires us to wear them indoors, it's been great to go out without it. Well over half our state is fully vaccinated, and the state has seen a sharp decline in cases (and most of those severe cases are the unvaxxed.)
For those who still wish to wear them, more power to you. I know several people with immune issues who prefer to keep them on. But I think we've reached the point where it should be optional now.
brewens
(13,400 posts)no big deal to me, I'll wear one. If I go to a bar, no mask. The bar won't happen until cases are way down though. I'm in Idaho and we still are high transmission last I looked.
So, I'll risk it to go drinking, but improve my odds any other time I'm in public. That'd be like once a week going to the bar at the most.
highplainsdem
(48,731 posts)wearing them, and I know some of the clerks are immunocompromised and others are worried about their children.
hamsterjill
(15,214 posts)Im still masking and I dont intend to stop until I feel comfortable. Im not there yet. Ive tried very hard not to get COVID this far and have been lucky. I dont want or need the long haul issues.
WestMichRad
(1,282 posts)Outdoors, only when crowded.
Sports event, concerts, indoor movies, etc
unlikely to ever attend again.
rownesheck
(2,343 posts)I'm vaxxed and boosted. At my job they said starting Feb 28, if you're fully vaxxed, you can choose to not wear a mask. It feels weird, but I'm doing it. I just hate the thought of someone thinking I'm an anti mask trumper, but I'm just gonna have to get over it.
Of course, if cases start to increase dramatically here, I'll mask up again.
Tommy Carcetti
(43,085 posts)I'm not comfortable walking in maskless to--for example--Starbucks where everyone behind the counter is wearing masks, and I'm not.
Raine
(30,540 posts)Elessar Zappa
(13,650 posts)If I want to go to a place where Ill be packed in like a can of sardines (like a concert) Ill wear one. Or if there is a rule in the facility requiring them.
sakabatou
(42,083 posts)forthemiddle
(1,373 posts)We were in California (San Diego) last week, and I certainly wasnt the only one. In fact the mask wearers were very much in the minority.
This is no longer a Democrat/Republican issue. People on both sides of the aisle are taking off the masks.
dawg
(10,610 posts)For what it's worth, I'll probably always mask up in certain situations. Probably should have been doing so all along anyway.
Tree Lady
(11,370 posts)In my area. They are down but not far enough yet. We still have mandate until March 12 so will check cases then. Had a talk with used bookstore owner today, he said him and his wife are thinking of leaving up mask sign for awhile. He had a niece die of covid. He said state is leaving it up to individual owners after mandate off. Kind of like no shoes, no shirt no service signs.
Kaleva
(36,147 posts)iemanja
(53,003 posts)tanyev
(42,360 posts)Then the challenge will be to go back to doing some things with a mask on that I'm still avoiding--movies, going back inside a grocery store, etc. Maybe taking the mask off at work when I'm seated at my desk but putting it on if I have to walk around.
Emile
(21,910 posts)I don't!
meadowlander
(4,358 posts)Am I indoors or outdoors? How crowded is it? Is it a place like a pharmacy where it's more likely that sick people have visited recently? How long am I staying there? Do I have any symptoms I could possibly give to someone else?
Meowmee
(5,164 posts)Which it isnt yet. Probably not for quite some time. When case numbers and deaths are so low as to be a low factor. When there are no new potentially deadly variants or possibilities of them developing. There may be still some situations where I still will like at the doctor because I have frequently gotten sick there. I also get sick when I teach in person because my students come to class sick. Although I have told them for years not to come to class if they are sick, they will be excused.
Shrek
(3,970 posts)Except for air travel and when requested by the property owner.
BlackSkimmer
(51,308 posts)Not any time soon.
Calculating
(2,954 posts)Vaccinated, boosted, recovered from omicron (it was like a minor cold). I'm over it, no more masks
beaglelover
(3,441 posts)It's so confusing right now in CA. Today most of the state went mask free inside even for the unvaxed, but not L.A. County. So stupid.
liberal_mama
(1,495 posts)comfortable. I don't mind them at all.
I sure wish I could take off my bra though. Now that's uncomfortable!
All of my friends and family are continuing to wear their masks too. If I wasn't immune compromised myself, I would still wear it in support of all of the high risk people.
Celerity
(42,672 posts)Stopped in the beginning of May 2021 (more than year after we both had asymptomatic origin strain Covid in April 2020), started again mid December, when Omicron hit, now we have had our 4th jab (2nd booster) all variant tweaked experimentals as part of a long-running study we volunteered for, and the Omicron wave has vastly subsided here (Sweden). Almost no one wears masks, maybe 3, 4% max. Most all restrictions were lifted weeks ago, and there never was an overall mask mandate once during the entire pandemic.
Nether of us had any remotely major reaction to the 2nd booster (Omicron variant-tweaked), nor the first 2 initial jabs (both Beta variant-tweaked). The Delta variant-tweaked first booster hit us like a freight train, but went away just as fast as it came around 30 hours post-jab.
Demovictory9
(32,324 posts)thanks for the input from Sweden
Celerity
(42,672 posts)Our T-cells are loaded for bear, so antibody counts are the not the be-all and end-all.
The doctors doing the study here said there are no plans (atm, again barring a radically different and dangerous variant) for a 5th jab five months from now (the 4th jab was exactly, to the day, 5 months after the 3rd jab (first booster).
I hope that the US Army designed 'universal' jab pans out. These boutique, variant tweaked jabs do not seem to be coming to 'market' anyway, as the variants they are designed for have all been supplanted by new ones (I am sure the same thing will happen with our Omicron jab, and to a point, it already has, as our jabs were made for the original BA.1 Omicron, not the newer BA.2 Omicron sub strain).
mvd
(65,148 posts)Weve had too many stops and restarts. Even when it truly looks like COVID is no longer in the pandemic stage, I plan to wear a mask during the winter months.
Ms. Toad
(33,915 posts)When the vaccination rate in the county I'm in is 70% or higher - AND - the average number of new cases per 100,000 people is below 50 over a 2-week period.
The adult vaccination rate has hit that number. At the time I set it (last summer), vaccinations weren't available for children - so I haven't figured out whether I'll wait for kids or not.
The new cases are somewhere between 84 and 121. (The 2-week reports (121) are lagging by about a week; the daily report for today was 6/100,000 - which works out to 84 over a 14-day period.)
So soon, for at least a while. I'll keep close watch on the numbers and will be re-masking very quicky if the numbers go back up.
Withywindle
(9,988 posts)When the transmission numbers are low enough that I feel truly secure I'm not going to bring something back to my elderly parents.
I don't mind wearing masks, I've gotten used to it. I have some cool fashion ones I put over the N25 and color-coordinate. It's really not a big deal.
Crunchy Frog
(26,548 posts)effective therapeutics if I catch it.
Or if they come up with a next generation vaccine that's much more effective than the current one.
DFW
(54,057 posts)Still too many new cases around. I am not interested in finding out if I will be breakthrough case or not.
Response to Demovictory9 (Original post)
Skittles This message was self-deleted by its author.
Skittles
(152,967 posts)we are screwed when even DUers no longer give a shit
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/coronavirus/new-reports-show-ba-2-covid-19-cases-are-increasing-as-cdc-relaxes-mask-rules
634-5789
(4,175 posts)Dorian Gray
(13,469 posts)I'll wear on the subway in NYC for quite a long time. I'm still wearing when shopping, etc. But I stopped wearing it at social gatherings where I know all the people are vaccinated.
I have started going to restaurants again (obviously can't wear a mask).
I would go to a movie now. If it's crowded, i'll keep the mask on. If there are few people in there, i'll take it off.
evaluating everything as I do it now.
NYC numbers this week are where they were last July. So a general respite is good. If it sticks, my child may stop wearing her mask in NYC. But we've agreed to keep them on for the time being while indoors.
peacebuzzard
(5,124 posts)And have not had covid, cold or flu since I started wearing masks
Raftergirl
(1,276 posts)Its not necessary anymore.
Not there yet.
TBS, I do not care of others wear them or not. I have high quality N95 and KN95/94 masks and Im not going anywhere indoors where people cannot mask - like inside a restaurant.
I also live in highly vaxxed area so that helps, too.
Lady Freedom Returns
(14,120 posts)Still doesn't mean I can't die from the stinking flu. Mask, social distance, and vaccinations are my best chance
RobinA
(9,878 posts)except at work when I'm around others, where I have to wear it. I wear it when required, no more.
Bucky
(53,795 posts)I still wear a mask in my classroom cause I'm setting an example for the kids. Our school district made masks non-mandatory as of yesterday (March 1st), but 90% of my students are still in them.
When I'm in a wide open indoor space, I'm usually unmasked. But if I go into a huddle, I'll strap it on.
TygrBright
(20,733 posts)AngryOldDem
(14,061 posts)Demsrule86
(68,352 posts)the entire year I masked...it doesn't bother me to wear a mask. On the other hand, a cold really bothers me as does the flu.