I think all the excessive slathering with hand sanitizer is another symptom of unreasonable fear of surface transmission.
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I live in NJ where the indoor mask restriction was lifted the end of May. I have been to several stores since then and have stayed unmasked. Today when entering a local TJ Max I was told I needed to wear a mask (first time this has been asked of me). I had one and put it on.
Went to WF today and none of the staff were masked and only about 50% of customers. Last week, 100% were masked so it feels like a big shift very quickly. We moved into a full reopening on Friday so I guess it makes sense.
I went shopping today and went to two stores. Both stores had a mix of masked and unmasked customers and employees. It was nice to not have to bother with the mask.
I work in a health care facility and am totally onboard with this, but here and Iām guessing most places (CDC directive) masks are still required in health care settings. From doctorās offices to hospitals. Have you given any thought as to why health care facilities still require mask coverage but restaurants, stores, etc do not???
Itās something to think about.
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Spent some time walking around a cute little touristy town with lots of little shops and boutiques. There seems to be a new fashion trend for women of attaching the mask to a lanyard so you can easily put it on and off as the situation demands.
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I went for my mammogram and bone density test at a health facility on Friday and masks are required for everybody. Even in states with no other restrictions the rules say masks for healthcare facilities and for mass transit.
RIght. Which is my point. Why health care and not other places? There are certainly facets of health care where there is more risk, more ill people, etc. But in many cases (well care for instance or walking through a large hospital lobby) is it different than walking in other public places?
Just curious peopleās thoughts about that. Again, I totally support it.
Healthcare facilities treat people who may be ill and especially vulnerable. Going to stores and other venues are more re optional and folks can hire delivery services for items but not for health care. It would be great if restaurants and stores advertised all their staff is fully vaxed.
I figure itās just easier to lump all health care together when making requirements. Similar to the vaccine roll out. H and I had that discussion with schools. Do you separate out the high school next year because they can have shots but not the lower grades? I figure they will keep it consistent as long as possible. Less confusion
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Iāll give you that for the most vulnerable - even though they would be still be a small % of the population.
Again, I donāt think itās wrong - at this point I think its still RIGHT. But I just find it interesting that āweā lifted the restrictions on most things so quickly - but that health care has stayed with masking.
I guess Iām saying are there places other than health care that should remain masked? Should stores still be (I donāt think anyone here is still doing this) keeping an hour of shopping for the vulnerable - or require full masking during that hour? Did we deny that smaller minority of vulnerable people some normalcy to say get their own groceries?
Well, Iām in HI; we are still masking and still have SR hour 1st thing in the day for the most vulnerable. Iām glad we are doing so.
People with contagious diseases (not just COVID-19) are more likely to seek health care than people who are not sick of anything. Similarly, medically vulnerable people are more likely to seek health care than people who are not medically vulnerable.
Even decades ago, it was generally thought that health care facilities were places where one was more likely to catch something from some other sick person who was seeking health care there.
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Well those who are immunocompromised and cannot be vaccinated can avoid retail stores, restaurants, etc. but they cannot avoid getting healthcare. That is probably the reason.
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Itās just theatre.
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Fair enough.
Something to consider, though Iām sure those advocating for kids being vaccinated and masked already have.
My math and calculations are back of a matchbook quality, butā¦
If youāre an 80+ year old (non-specific gender, even though males make out much worse than females) youāve a case mortality rate of roughly 15%.
Even though that number reflects the virus sweeping through the frailest of that age group, those with the most comorbidities, the remainder of the group takes the Pfizer vaccine which is supposedly 90+ percent effective.
A vaccinated person from that group, one thatās often said to be one respiratory illness away from passing on, is looking at a 1.5% mortality case rate if they contract the covid. Well, not really, since the vaccine is also billed as reducing the severity of the case outcome.
There are other things to worry about, besides whether a kid has been vaccinated.
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A family-owned restaurant near me has a āOur staff is 100% vaccinatedā sign. Will be interesting to see if other restaurants and stores follow suit.
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I tend to agree. Thereās no more or less danger in a doctorās office than in a retail store or a restaurant.
For those that are unable to vaccinate there is no shortage of n95 masks available to protect themselves.
It really depends on the place. As with everything, there are huge variations. In my neck of the woods, even with an appointment, you will wait at least an hour to see a doctor. 2 hours is common. Walk in places, 3-4 hours is often the case. Youāll be much more at risk there than our grocery store where anything more than 3 carts in a line is unheard of unless a snow storm is coming. Our target often has more employees than shoppers. Very small risk there. And our mall is practically deserted on the best of days. But I know other areas are not like that.
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Also itās easier to control the amount of time youāre in a store. (Most if my visits to stores I can quickly get what I want and be in and out in under an hour.)
For the medical settings, you donāt have much of a choice on how long your wait may be. If youāre waiting for ER/ED it can be many hours in the waiting room, corridors, for testing and more.
Many of us with lung conditions cannot wear n95 masks for any length of time, regardless of how much we may wish to. We simply cannot breathe except in masks which vent, which folks are not supposed to wear (but I do see folks wearing).