Went to a couple of stores and stopped by a couple of wineries on the way home. This time, Costco shoppers were about 50-60% masked (compared to 90 plus % a week ago). The little deli had an unmasked cashier but all shoppers wore theirs, and the deli still had the sign that masks were required to get service. The wineries had outdoor seating and were lively. Of course not too many masks because most folks were enjoying their wine… we loaded up on groceries and got some good wine for dinner tonight.
2 Likes
I assume one reason healthcare facilities require masks is that sick/vulnerable patients are there.
MAY be there. A fair bit of health care is well care, wellness, injury rehabilitation…
Again I get why and support it and work in it! My point was that maybe other places (not all, but some) should consider some of those same more stringent protocol.
Went to another large store today (competitor to the one mentioned in #414). Most people masked, but some not masked. There was no sign indicating any specific mask policy on the door. Most, but not all, unmasked people appeared to be White (most people in the store and general area were visible minorities).
So far, the only place I recently (after the 6/15 statewide mask rule change) saw with a “mask required” (for everyone) on the door was an automotive service shop that did state inspections and minor maintenance jobs.
Back from trip to NC and back from Texas. The most mask wearing I observed was in Durham, NC. Didn’t see much of any of it in Tennessee and Arkansas.
Our mask policy changed at the end of May. It took a few weeks but most stores have switched over to the signs saying masks not required for the vaccinated. I think you Californians will find fewer and fewer wearing mass over the next few weeks.
Right now I’m on vacation in SC. No customers are wearing masks but many store workers still have them on. It would be store policy whether they are required, not law, or personal preference. At an outdoor bar, 2 bartenders (who happen to be sisters) had them on but no one else did.
Our grocery store is back to normal at last. All directional arrows as well as distancing signs removed. Nobody directs you to a particular checkout register anymore, either. Yay! Still a few people wearing masks, but the number is decreasing rapidly. 
Had to make a run to HD yesterday. We almost left our masks in the truck, but good thing I remembered to take them. Not a single unmasked shopper or employee, even in the garden center which is fully outdoors. I would have expected to see at least a few maskless faces in this area of our county. Go figure.
1 Like
Our state still requires masks indoors except while eating and drinking and there continues to be good compliance in the areas I frequent. There are a few folks who have masks below nose but very few. Our Governor says we will keep mask wearing and restrictions until we hit higher % of folks vaccinated.
Generally speaking stores in our area no longer require masks for vaccinated people, including T J Maxx and Marshall’s, which were still requiring them last week. I am seeing more people who don’t wear masks in stores. I myself stopped wearing them in stores a few days ago.
1 Like
I was pleased my son coming from overseas said he has no problem wearing a mask while he’s here, since his vaccination won’t take full effect during his visit.
Here in MA, the only place I’ve been to in the last couple of weeks that requested all customers wear a mask regardless of vaccine status was a bank. I’ve been to numerous stores of all types, restaurants, and my local public library.
That is surprising, since banks were skittish about masked customers in pre-COVID-19 times (on Halloween before COVID-19, they tended to have signs requesting customers to remove masks).
1 Like
YES, @ucbalumnus , just before COVID, I recall going into the bank on a single-digit cold day feeling like an icicle, and was chastised for not removing my wool hat!! Same bank now insists that I wear a mask! Whatever …
2 Likes
Too funny, I went to the bank (California) today for the first time in months and months, to open a teen account for my daughter, and they were still requiring masks for everyone!
Your hat story triggered my memory of being chastised by a Massachusetts bank employee when I was like 11 years old because I was lingering in the lobby while my dad waited in line for a teller. The person told me to join my dad and also to remove my sunglasses. Ha!
Here in California I’m continuing to see a mix of masks and maskless among both customers and employees. It does feel a bit weird to be maskless and interact with a masked employee; I almost feel like I’m doing something wrong, which of course I’m not since I am vaccinated. I can’t help but wonder if the masked employee is unvaccinated, or just being extra careful for themselves or a household member. Of course, I realize it’s none of my business.
I’m still going to mask until they know if the Delta variant, and others are covered by the vaccine. A mask in a store for 15 minutes isn’t a big thing for me.
6 Likes
I thought about your post when I went out today. I’ve been dealing with some health issues so I had not been out much beyond medical visits since the state reopened. Today was my first big outing on my own. Went to my gym. Masks no longer required and most were not wearing them. I only was outside so not sure what was happening inside. Grocery store was next stop. 80% of the people still had masks on in the grocery store. Wandered into the bookstore which still was requiring masks. My cleaning person came today and she kept her mask on.
My kids differ in opinion. One D still wears a mask as she is concerned about the Delta variant. Other D feels she doesn’t need to mask up as she is vaccinated.
Went to my favorite grocery store after a 10 day trip away. The “masks are mandatory to enter” signs are gone, and a “masks recommended for the unvaccinated” signs are now in place.
I saw maybe 3 people wearing masks in the entire store. A very big change from only a few weeks ago.
Had a coffee with a former colleague at a local Starbucks. The baristas all had their masks on, but the customers did not. We followed their lead. Sat outside in the sun and chatted.
I noticed when I went to my Trader Joe’s to grab a couple of items that all of the cashiers were still masked (plexiglass is still up), but a couple of the guys stocking shelves did not have masks on. About 50% of the customers were masked this week compared to 100% when I went last week.