De-masking in your community?

MarcieB

In the past, when the pandemic began, we had some spirited discussions here about wearing masks. Some were all-timers, and some of us were some-timers. Now that so many have been vaccinated I have noticed my small community becoming more and more unmasked. Stores here have signs now asking for masks UNLESS you have been fully vaccinated. I shop now without a mask and no one has asked me for proof of vaccination, which, of course, I have. People walking the sidewalks and in our downtown park are generally not masked now. So, I am wondering if that is happening everywhere? A slow *unclenching*? A more relaxed approach? Since I have the full vaccine AND antibodies, I kind of feel like titanium...but I am still careful in some situations. I am just wondering how things are in your area?

Bengal

New mask directives from the CDC are confusing at best, impossible to enforcer at worst. Vaccination does not equate with immunity it just gives a much higher level of protection from serious illness or death. I had noticed, similar to you, in my community a mixture of masked and unmasked. Chain stores have signs posted according to their own corporate policies. I choose to continue wearing a mask in most indoor situations where there are many people coming and going. I am a senior with comorbidities. I prefer to to be cautious. It is unfortunate how politicized the whole mask thing quickly became. It was never an infringement on personal rights but an attempt to get out ahead of a worldwide crisis. I went into a local government office recently - wearing a mask. Another woman waiting on line informed me I didn't need to be wearing a mask. I said I preferred to continue wearing it in public places. I got an EYE ROLE! Really?

legaljen1969

Oh. Some lady had a full on meltdown on the elevator because our office handyman was wearing a mask. I wasn’t wearing mine since it was after hours and I wasn’t expecting people to come into the building. I was not even expecting the handyman, but I was in the process of masking so he would feel more comfortable. I had forgotten something and was going back in.
This woman absolutely lost her mind screaming “you don’t have to wear a GD mask.”

legaljen1969

It’s very relaxed here now. Stores still prefer you wear them. I don’t blame them.

The crazy thing I see is people refusing to wear a mask but insisting that clerks and servers wear them. They want to be comfortably mask free but impose rules on others.

Molly72

I have had my vaccine shots, but do not feel comfortable without my mask inside in public places.
We have to wear them in medical settings & some stores.
The grocery store near us, (Polly's Country Market in Chelsea, Marcie) is not clean and has a rather "diverse" customer base! Somehow, I feel safer with my mask on in there. I see quite a few people still wearing their masks. The employees for the most part wear theirs, and I don't blame them! I don't go to many public places yet, maybe in a couple of months I will feel safer, but I have too many medical issues.

Carool

Molly72, I started to say, “Yay! You’re in NYC!,” when I realized there are MANY Chelseas, not just the Chelsea in Manhattan!

Here in NYC, many pedestrians are unmasked. In stores, almost everyone is masked. I’ve been masking outside and indoors in public places, but last night I went to eat with two friends in an indoor restaurant. I wasn’t at all anxious. One friend is here from MD for the weekend, and we’ll be going to two more restaurants (one indoor, one outdoor). I’m feeling same as you, Marcie: like titanium. At least for now.

Molly72

Hey Carool-- I live in the country near a little town in MI. Marcie lives maybe 20-25 miles away in another town in MI!
It would be fun to visit NYC someday, I used to visit my grandparents evey year or so when I was young. They lived in Great Neck, LI.

MarcieB

Molly72, we really should meet sometime! Maybe when you are feeling a little more comfortable to be without your mask for a while?

Molly72

That might be fun Marcie, I do have several drs. appointments & procedures coming up soon,
maybe after they are over & hopefully resolved, we could meet.

MarcieB

I hope all your appointments and procedures go well, Molly. It is frustrating to have those things hanging over your head. Keep us posted on how you are doing?

petieagnor

Yes, things are getting relaxed in KY, too. I still wear a mask into the stores as I'm not sure that the people that I encounter have a vaccination. I may be wearing a mask for a long time. The pandemic has caused so much uncertainty. I read that older people are handling it better than younger ones. Melt downs are the norm. I think the violence & suicides have proven that.

Carool

Molly72, if you ever plan to visit NYC, let’s meet! Same for anyone else here who plans to come to NY.

Molly72

Carool--Would love to meet you in person-- over a real hot pastrami samich!
We do have a wonderful deli in Ann Arbor, MI, that's the closest place for such goodies. Last time I went there, they cost about $12, (that's expensive for this area) but big enough to split! Now the price is probably $15.

legaljen1969

Carool, I am definitely looking you up if I come to New York.

Bug

Molly72, good luck with your medical appointments. Please keep us posted. And I think I know which deli you are talking about. The name escapes me at the moment but it's famous in town and, yes, wonderful.

As to the original question... We were in a local grocery store two days ago and several people were not wearing masks. Yesterday I was in a grocery store that is about 20 miles away - it is actually another town - and everyone was still masked. Well, one woman was not when I first saw her but then she was about ten minutes later. I'm sticking with a mask in a grocery store and similar places for now.

Molly72

Bug -----The name of the deli is Zingermann's, now I am getting hungry.
It is in Ann Arbor, MI., do you live nearby?

MarcieB

For the record - Zingermann's is a family favorite in my house. My husband raised his children in the area, so every time they come here for a visit we absolutely have to go there (also Anglo's for breakfast) We even send them gift subscriptions for monthly food deliveries as Christmas presents. Bug, are you in this area too?

Bug

Yes, Zingermann's! I was going to say that but then second-guessed myself. Husband and I live in California but lived in East Lansing for a while and had friends in Ann Arbor. They took us to Zingermann's. What a treat. I have not heard of Anglo's.

Carool

Molly72, sounds great (though I’ll have to skip the pastrami, as I don’t eat meat).

legaljen, definitely look me up if you’re going to be here!

Molly, good luck with your appointments. Yes, as said by others, please keep us posted.

Lynne-I-Am

I love, love , love going outside everywhere unmasked. I am fully vaccinated but the variant from India has me concerned. Everything I have heard states the vaccines are only about 70 % to 80% effective against this variant. The honor system regarding masks does not work for me so when I am in enclosed spaces I still wear my mask for the time being.

legaljen1969

I have pretty much given up wearing my mask as I have been vaccinated and the mask mandates here are pretty much done. I do carry some disposables with me in case I go somewhere that people would prefer I wear a mask. I know some people still are not comfortable without people being masked, and I would prefer to not be the source of discomfort.

Molly72

I still do not mind wearing a mask. I feel it helps protects me, whether or not that might be true or not.
I have a heart condition & an autoimmune condition among other things & I think a mask is a good idea. I just wear it in public & inside.
I also wash my hands after being out, after seeing some of the people in the grocery & public places, I think that is a good idea as well!!!! The new variant is scary for those who have not been vaccinated, let's hope there is not another outbreak.

legaljen1969

Molly, I can certainly understand why you would feel more comfortable wearing a mask. I do not begrudge anyone who does wear one.

I am happy to once again have clear skin. I was one of those who got "maskne" breakouts. I washed my face regularly. I washed my masks regularly. I tried disposables. I brushed my teeth all the time. I blew my nose all the time. I gave up on makeup and looked like the worst character from the zombie apocalypse. I tried everything to keep the yuck out of my mask, but my face stayed broken out all the time. My complexion was atrocious.

Of course I hope there is not another breakout. The variants are concerning for sure. Has there been any evidence that those who are vaccinated have any protection against the variants? I would think it would be like the flu shot- just chasing the "best guess" which may or may not provide any protection. I have been vaccinated, and I do what I can to protect myself. That said, if I have an occasion where a mask does not seem necessary, I will avail myself of the opportunity to not wear it.

Molly72

Me too legaljen, I went to the dermatologist because of my mask breakouts-- we are back in our teen years! He said many people have our problem & gave me a prescription for these little pads that are very helpful in clearing up the breakouts.
I did get your "private" email & will be answering you later-- today is a busy day for me.

cllinda

I'm still wearing one in certain places, like the stores. My health club relaxed the rules for guests who are fully vaccinated. I'm just very careful where I choose to unmask at. And I still use lots of hand sanitation when I do go out.
And because our churches have opened up to full capacity, I am not yet comfortable going to church yet. I still watch it on tv. I just need more time to adjust.

Carool

Re vaccines protecting against the delta variant - I read in the NYT (I think it was, or the Washington Post) that from what is known now, both the Pfizer and the Moderna protect against having a severe case of the delta variant. Let’s hope!

Bug

Carool, did the article say anything about the Johnson & Johnson vaccine protecting against the delta variant? That’s the one I got.

Bug

...meaning that’s the vaccine I got - the J&J.

Carool

Bug, I’m sorry — I don’t remember if the article said anything about the J&J. Here’s some info I googled: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/covid-19-which-vaccines-are-effective-against-the-delta-variant

Here’s another link: https://www.newyorker.com/science/medical-dispatch/the-delta-variant-is-a-grave-danger-to-the-unvaccinated/amp

Here’s an excerpt:

“Taken together, these findings have led some experts to propose adjustments in vaccination strategy. Muge Cevik, an infectious-diseases expert at St. Andrews University and an adviser to the British government, told me that, given the arrival of Delta, it was important to ask “what our main aim of vaccination is.” She went on, “If our primary objective is to reduce hospitalizations and deaths, a first dose still gives very good protection. If it’s to stamp out transmission, then the second dose becomes quite important. I think that, especially in hot spots, we need to expedite second shots.” Others have proposed the idea of mRNA-vaccine booster shots for Americans who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which, like AstraZeneca’s, uses non-mRNA technology. The C.D.C.’s official guidelines tell Americans that “the best covid-19 vaccine is the first one that is available to you. Do not wait for a specific brand.” But that advice was minted when vaccine supply was constrained. The accumulated evidence has led many people to wonder whether the mRNA vaccines, from Moderna and Pfizer, are preferable to the one offered by Johnson & Johnson, and whether the Delta variant makes them even more so.

“It’s likely that J. & J. offers strong protection against severe disease, but because it’s a one-shot regimen it might not offer the same protection against infection for a highly transmissible variant like Delta,” Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, told me. “A second shot reëxposes the immune system to the vaccine, and allows the body to make even better antibodies.” Rasmussen received the J. & J. vaccine; she lives in Canada, where health authorities have encouraged people to mix and match the vaccines. ‘I’m considering topping off my immune system with a dose of Pfizer,” she said. ‘It’s something worth thinking about.’”

Bug

Wow. That’s terrifying. Thank you for the info.

Carool

Bug, can you and your husband get the Pfizer or Moderna (if your doctors recommend that)?