This is major, and potentially has huge implications for the travel industry.
In this post:
Mask rules eased for vaccinated people
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has today eased indoor mask wearing and social distancing guidance for fully vaccinated people. With this update, fully vaccinated people are no longer told that they need to wear masks or social distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, or local laws, including local business and workplace guidance.
For example, there’s still a federal transportation mask mandate, so you can expect we’ll continue to have to wear masks on planes. However, this means that masks will no longer be consistently required in schools, workplaces, etc. As Dr. Rochelle Walensky, the director of the CDC, describes this change:
“Anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor and outdoor activities – large or small — without wearing a mask or physically distancing. If you are fully vaccinated, you can start doing the things that you had stopped doing because of the pandemic.”
This change is credited to the progress the USA has made with vaccinations:
- 154 million Americans (more than 46% of the population) have received at least one dose of a vaccine
- 117 million Americans are fully vaccinated
We’ve seen coronavirus cases and deaths decrease significantly, and hopefully that trend continues even further in the coming weeks, as vaccinated people continue to build immunity.
Masks will no longer be required in restaurants for vaccinated people
This is surreal, awesome, and tricky
Before we talk about the implications this has for travel, I have a few general thoughts:
- It’s absolutely surreal to think that after 14 months we’ll be able to go out in public again without wearing masks
- I think it’s awesome that the government is finally giving people who were otherwise on the fence a real incentive to get vaccinated, which is a return to mostly normal life (of course people should get vaccinated to protect themselves and others, but unfortunately that wasn’t enough of an incentive for many); telling fully vaccinated people to not change their behavior only created more vaccine hesitancy, in my opinion
- This is also tricky, because one reason that everyone has had to wear a mask is because there’s no easy way to differentiate between vaccinated and unvaccinated people; I assume we’ll now be using the honor system, so for all practical purposes this may spell the end of mask wearing for most vaccinated people as well (there’s a high overlap between anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers, so…)
Expect that you’ll still have to wear masks on planes
What are the implications of this for travel?
With this updated guidance from the CDC, what does that mean for travelers? Do we still have to wear masks in airports, on airplanes, in hotels, etc.? Here’s my general take:
- There’s a transportation mask mandate in place through September 13, 2021, so I imagine that won’t change, meaning that you’ll still have to wear masks at airports and on planes; however, perhaps this mandate won’t be extended beyond that
- We’ve seen virtually all major hotel groups require masks to be worn in all public spaces, and I would expect those rules to be changed sooner rather than later, perhaps even in the coming days
- It will ultimately still be up to individual businesses and local governments to mandate mask wearing; I would expect that most businesses will lift these requirements for vaccinated people, though I imagine it will vary based on the general politics of a place (for example, Florida and Hawaii have been on opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to coronavirus related precautions)
I would expect hotels to change their mask policies soon
Bottom line
The CDC has updated its guidance to no longer recommend mask wearing for vaccinated people in crowded outdoor spaces, as well as in most indoor spaces. It’s great to see we’ve made enough progress where public health officials feel comfortable with this.
While I expect we’ll still have to wear masks at airports and on planes through September, I expect mask requirements will likely be lifted in many other areas (including hotels) in the coming days and weeks.
How do you see the updated guidance from the CDC playing out in the travel industry? If you’re vaccinated, will you change your approach to mask wearing immediately as a result of this update?
@ Emily & YULtide,
Both of you are SPOT ON............ to use a phrase from nmy British Friends!!
Thank you.
I’m vaccinated and have been fully for over a month, but I’ll still be wearing it when around strangers indoors. On the travel side of things though - with this new guidance, I do see it complicating international travel. I don’t anticipate the US being on the UK’s green list anytime soon (especially if the US cases rise again), unless the UK start taking into account whether someone has been vaccinated or not. “Amber country...
I’m vaccinated and have been fully for over a month, but I’ll still be wearing it when around strangers indoors. On the travel side of things though - with this new guidance, I do see it complicating international travel. I don’t anticipate the US being on the UK’s green list anytime soon (especially if the US cases rise again), unless the UK start taking into account whether someone has been vaccinated or not. “Amber country and vaccinated and can prove it? One negative test to come in and go have fun”. Won’t happen, but it would be nice. At least the EU seems to be moving in that direction.
So when are we go back to quarantine again having another lockdown
@Roman: no need to tattoo you, the neon sign on your forehead already flashes IDIOT!
Why do people get so emotionally invested in something as inconsequential as this blog or the comments on it? Some of the comments are in fact completely unrelated! Yes - the blog is entertaining and a good distraction but hardly are any of the articles earth shattering, novel or important.
Actually there's an easy way to get to herd immunity. Every insurance company in the USA needs to send a letter to every customer that says, if you wear a mask (onus on you to prove it) and get a vaccine and get Covid, we'll cover you. If you don't wear a mask or don't get a vaccine and you get Covid, you will die broke.
God bless for-profit health care.
People who think they are making a statement by not getting vaccinated or that their ideas are supported for religious reasons need to rethink their priorities. All religions say to not harm others. To not get vaccinated is irresponsible and placing others at risk so actually people who refuse to get vaccinated under bogus religious reasons are potential murderers. If you are making a statement or believe in some mass conspiracy, may I direct you...
People who think they are making a statement by not getting vaccinated or that their ideas are supported for religious reasons need to rethink their priorities. All religions say to not harm others. To not get vaccinated is irresponsible and placing others at risk so actually people who refuse to get vaccinated under bogus religious reasons are potential murderers. If you are making a statement or believe in some mass conspiracy, may I direct you to the mental asylum.
If you choose not to get vaccinated, then be prepared that others may choose to exclude you from society. It's as simple as that. There is no obligation to accept stupidity.
Bill - Kudos to your son in law. I also worked in the ER and Covid ICU in NY last year and just finished a one month stint in India as a volunteer with MSF. Most medical professionals did so last year. The concern is not my health since I know what precautions to take. My patients are my concern, most of whom are severely immunocompromised since I am an oncologist. Patients with minor or...
Bill - Kudos to your son in law. I also worked in the ER and Covid ICU in NY last year and just finished a one month stint in India as a volunteer with MSF. Most medical professionals did so last year. The concern is not my health since I know what precautions to take. My patients are my concern, most of whom are severely immunocompromised since I am an oncologist. Patients with minor or regular ailments are welcome to visit me at my outpatient and/or hospital practice. I wish you good health and I that you never suffer from a disease where a simple cold can become life threatening.
@CCMD Make sure to get their patient I.D. # tattooed to the inside of their forearm as well, can't be too safe nowadays.
DCharlie,
Amazing! So you don’t want any patient to see you if they can’t prove they don’t have a communicable disease? Glad there’s so many doctors who will actually see a sick person and make a diagnosis. Like my son in law who worked in the COVID ICU. They were very sick with a communicable disease and desperately needed dedicated health care professionals. The cherry picking money grab you call a practice is a disgrace.
Let the natural selection begin!
It's basically gonna be evolutionary in nature or "survival of the fittest" as in - those who dont want to get a shot and get sick...well, sucks to be you and take the consequences of either a funeral or medical bills. And those who lie and get sick , well serves you right ;>)
Brain evolution gives us the ability to plan for famine and farm and store grain, as well as look both...
It's basically gonna be evolutionary in nature or "survival of the fittest" as in - those who dont want to get a shot and get sick...well, sucks to be you and take the consequences of either a funeral or medical bills. And those who lie and get sick , well serves you right ;>)
Brain evolution gives us the ability to plan for famine and farm and store grain, as well as look both ways and avoid cars while crossing a street or to make a choice to drive fast or not and to drink a poisonous substance or not. So the neanderthal behavior of avoiding the injection and the illness - well go ahead and abuse you bodily health but I dont get you. Just go walk in the street and play Russian roulette with revolver for that same thrill. just silly to live that way and not a good way to live very long.
Just like smoking , or drinking too much and messing up your liver...all that is on you and your "freedom of choice" but dont expect me to help you out. Go read Ayn Rand "Atlas shrugs" to understand that point of focus.
And for those talking trash about "virtue signaling" (I always love these terms the right creates and propagates, as if they mean something), I can tell you I wore a mask even when people like you scorned and laughed at me, and will choose to continue to wear one for a good while after it's not mandatory until all people of all ages are able to be vaccinated and we reach herd immunity. It has...
And for those talking trash about "virtue signaling" (I always love these terms the right creates and propagates, as if they mean something), I can tell you I wore a mask even when people like you scorned and laughed at me, and will choose to continue to wear one for a good while after it's not mandatory until all people of all ages are able to be vaccinated and we reach herd immunity. It has absolutely nothing to do with virtue signaling and why would it? The people who believe in science may see it as a virtue and the people who don't will likely consider everyone else to be a fool. It is 100% to protect me and my family and friends from the latter and 0% about sending a message.
I was on a flight during the height of the pandemic with a couple a few aisles up who would pull their masks down every time the FAs were not around. He was bragging to the guy across the aisle about how he and his wife had perfected this art. He also told him he had a doctor who could write him a fake medical exemption and gave him his phone number. Do you think...
I was on a flight during the height of the pandemic with a couple a few aisles up who would pull their masks down every time the FAs were not around. He was bragging to the guy across the aisle about how he and his wife had perfected this art. He also told him he had a doctor who could write him a fake medical exemption and gave him his phone number. Do you think this couple (and the millions of others who don't believe in science) will get vaccinated solely because of their honesty and integrity when they won't even follow existing laws and rules? And do you think that, now that Fauci and the CDC made this recommendation they will all of a sudden start to wear masks? These are people who never cared about anything but their own comfort, and this will be an open invitation that anything goes.
I only vaxxed so I can travel! :)
I personally stopped listening to CDC a while ago...they have been wrong too many times, and slow, and overly political...with the inflation, gas shortages, refugee crisis, Middle East crisis going on right now, I wonder if their timing of this announcement is just a way to distract people from real problems...I hope I am wrong, but afraid I am right...
@A
Hopefully you are seeing the doctor on here who says he is dropping all patients who are not vaccinated.
One would also hope that anyone who has recovered has no need for a vaccine. If someone can explain to me how the vaccine offers better or additional protection, please let me know. I have been unable to find any information that is scientifically unbiased.
If you haven't gotten a vax yet, or don't want to be vaxed, that is your own decision....... We who are vaxed have NO responsibility for your well-being, period!!! NOR should your medical insurrance company have the responsibility for paying the high cost of trying to save your irresponsible life if you don't get vaxed, when you get Covid-19.
In the end, we, the rest of the insured are going to bear some of...
If you haven't gotten a vax yet, or don't want to be vaxed, that is your own decision....... We who are vaxed have NO responsibility for your well-being, period!!! NOR should your medical insurrance company have the responsibility for paying the high cost of trying to save your irresponsible life if you don't get vaxed, when you get Covid-19.
In the end, we, the rest of the insured are going to bear some of the cost to save your sorry lives via increased insurance premiums, or higher taxes due to the government paying the costs!
In other words, GET Vaxed or Pay your Own way FOOLS!!
Great.
So immunocompromised people who cannot get the vaccine - such as myself - will continue to wear a mask, because vaccinated people who no longer wear a mask are mistakenly think they can't spread it asymptomatically, which you can.
I also then have the joy of being labelled as an anti vaxxer/conspiracist/loon because by continuing to wear a mask, I clearly am identifiable as not having had the vaccine.
Here is an...
Great.
So immunocompromised people who cannot get the vaccine - such as myself - will continue to wear a mask, because vaccinated people who no longer wear a mask are mistakenly think they can't spread it asymptomatically, which you can.
I also then have the joy of being labelled as an anti vaxxer/conspiracist/loon because by continuing to wear a mask, I clearly am identifiable as not having had the vaccine.
Here is an idea. How about some sort of armband with a symbol on my arm to mark me out to the rest of society? Perhaps a star of some sort. That worked well in the past.
I would absolutely prohibit anyone without a MMR, covid or a vaccine for a highly transmissible and deadly disease from entering my private practice. It is actually within my right for the protection of the majority who are my clients and expect a level of service includes not contracting a potentially deadly disease in my office. What is the excuse for not getting vaccinated and then expecting everyone to accommodate those who choose not to...
I would absolutely prohibit anyone without a MMR, covid or a vaccine for a highly transmissible and deadly disease from entering my private practice. It is actually within my right for the protection of the majority who are my clients and expect a level of service includes not contracting a potentially deadly disease in my office. What is the excuse for not getting vaccinated and then expecting everyone to accommodate those who choose not to get vaccinated? I can understand that some in rare instances may have legitimate medical reasons for not getting vaccinated. The rest have no excuse. If you want to belong in a society and benefit from the social structure, then get with the rest of us and get your vaccines.
Kudos to @CCMD
+1 @Miamiorbust - well said
@David:
noun: virtue signaling
the action or practice of publicly expressing opinions or sentiments intended to demonstrate one's good character or the moral correctness of one's position on a particular issue.
So it seems your examples are both science and virtue signaling. If the examples bother you, it says more about you than them.
Biden wearing a mask during a virtual summit. VP Harris and husband, both vaccinated, sharing a quick kiss with masks on. Leaders following science or virtue signaling?
So what’s the latest with you & TPG
To “The Vaccinated”, you were the privileged few to be among the first pin cushions. You invented nothing. You made little or no contribution to entitle you to be at the front of the global line. Please stop being so smog. Your comments are emblematic of why most of the world detests Americans. Marginally educated masses riding the coattails of the gifted few and population of scale. Might explain why so many countries are clinging to those travel bans.
Totally disgusted by those of you who attack a physician for requiring their staff to be vaccinated before they can return to work. It’s common practice for the best hospitals in the US to require annual flu shots, up-to-date TB and even MMR and tetanus. Additionally, many of these are required for college students to be on campus (way before Covid emerged).
Grow a spine, some sense of self-respect, and responsibility for your place in...
Totally disgusted by those of you who attack a physician for requiring their staff to be vaccinated before they can return to work. It’s common practice for the best hospitals in the US to require annual flu shots, up-to-date TB and even MMR and tetanus. Additionally, many of these are required for college students to be on campus (way before Covid emerged).
Grow a spine, some sense of self-respect, and responsibility for your place in society, that it’s not all about you… what you do affects others.
@ CCMD are you also banning those who haven’t had a MMR vaccine? Hepatitis? Herpes? Patients who refuse to participate in clinical trials? You shouldn’t even be practicing medicine if you have no appreciation for full FDA approval.
@sharon
Please continue your thinking. No need to take any unnecessary risk. Covid can have lifelong implications for young children.
I wish people will continue masking even when suffering from the seasonal flu.
My family and I intend to continue wearing our mask because frankly I don’t have that much faith in the public. Furthermore, we will probably wear the masks until a significant majority of our population is vaccinated.
This has nothing to do with the above post, but ben might like to know about ANA announcing hands free bathroom doors.
https://www.anahd.co.jp/group/en/pr/202104/20210428.html?cid=EMMSIN20210514ADHaueMain2
Seems like a great idea even without a pandemic. I went to see my doctor the other day, he’s a cautious fellow at the best of times, however I noticed he’d taken to opening his office door by using a tongue depressor to operate the handle.
@Ray
Not my business of course but I do wonder if what he is doing might even be against federal regulations because there is no law requiring anyone to be vaccinated. I understand doctors can refuse patients for some reasons but not for religious reasons and undoubtedly some of those not wanting the vaccine are doing so because of their religious beliefs.
@Alan: not your business. You can’t choose who @CCMD treats or doesn’t treat. You are arguing just for the sake of argument.
@CCMD
I trust you will not permit anyone with any contagious disease into your practice to protect your immunocompromised patients. My understanding is many minor diseases can be life threatening for those patients.
@Not lucky - I'm not an anti-masker and got vaccinated the first day I could. But flu deaths are a drop in the bucket to preventable heart disease, strokes, cancer... all caused by obesity. Feel free to share your BMI, blood pressure, and cholesterol numbers before telling others how to live their lives.
@Alan. I am quite familiar with the Hippocratic oath. “I will abstain from
all intentional wrongdoing and harm” rings true to me. Allowing those who refuse the vaccine to risk the lives of others violates this principle. We will not put our immunocompromised and immunosuppressed patients at risk to appease the obstinate.
Further to The Original Donna’s question, I’m wondering if this will prompt a change in the requirement for tests upon arrival in the US. It’s a decent amount of stress on a traveler coming home (where can I get a test and will the results show up in time?) not to mention it can hurt like heck depending on where you leave from (I had a bad experience in Costa Rica). They should relax those...
Further to The Original Donna’s question, I’m wondering if this will prompt a change in the requirement for tests upon arrival in the US. It’s a decent amount of stress on a traveler coming home (where can I get a test and will the results show up in time?) not to mention it can hurt like heck depending on where you leave from (I had a bad experience in Costa Rica). They should relax those requirements with this CDC statement shouldn’t they, perhaps?
Curious on everyone’s thoughts
Primary care doc here too.
I’ll keep wearing one. I don’t trust people to be honest.
And the flu season idea is a great one too! Keep wearing them in public!
I think the better takeaway might be that it’s safer for vaccinated people to congregate indoors, rather than go mask-free.
@CCMD
I am delighted to hear about the common-sense policy your office is adopting. Personally, I seek out and try to patronize local businesses that make the community's common welfare a priority. It sounds like your office is the kind of place I'd be happy to support.
The anti-vax loons are not helping, they are actively hurting their own communities and working against the common good. As a customer, I do not want to support...
@CCMD
I am delighted to hear about the common-sense policy your office is adopting. Personally, I seek out and try to patronize local businesses that make the community's common welfare a priority. It sounds like your office is the kind of place I'd be happy to support.
The anti-vax loons are not helping, they are actively hurting their own communities and working against the common good. As a customer, I do not want to support any business that aids and abets them, and I certainly don't want to have to mix with them.
Kudos to your office, I hope this policy spreads far and wide. I'd gladly look for signs from any business that states something to the effect of "No vax, no entry". I hope airlines and hotels adopt that, too. Who really wants to share a confined space with people who believe vaccines have microchips in them? As time goes by, the anti-vax nuts will find the places they are allowed to enter is an ever-shrinking space.
Honor system. In the US. That is laughable just typing it. Didn’t the GOP just vote out Liz Cheney for telling the truth?
@Al: please show me where vaccines are 100% protective. Please show me all the children are vaccinated.
If this pandemic did one thing, it made ignorance something to flaunt.
@CCMD
I am appalled at your practice and it violates the Hippocratic Oath. You may disagree with someone's choices but your profession is supposed to go beyond those concerns and treat everyone.
Do you refuse to treat those with lung cancer who smoke? Do you refuse to treat the obese who overeat? Do you refuse patients with tuberculosis? Do you refuse to treat an HIV patient because they did not practice safe sex? I can go on and on but please reread the oath.
With CDC saying that it should be safe to travel, only for the USA to come back and put "
Lv.4 DO NOT TRAVEL" alerts to the rest of the world leaves me to conclude that the CDC's opinions mean jack sheet. ~20 years later and most airline passengers are still taking off their shoes. I am pessimistic.
It was announced today that seven members of the NY Yankees have tested positive. All were fully vaccinated. Maybe vaccinated and masking in public is a good idea if breakthrough infections in young healthy people are so much more likely than we anticipated.
@Lucky:
"I think it’s awesome that the government is finally giving people a real incentive to get vaccinated, which is a return to mostly normal life;"
You are joking right? Protecting others, one's family and one's self was not a "real incentive"?
This is an incredibly tone deaf statement.
@ UA -- My apologies, you're of course completely correct, and I updated that portion of the post to reflect that. To be clear, I've been 100% in favor of getting vaccinated, and I got vaccinated the second I could, because being able to protect others and myself is way more than enough incentive. My point was that for some portion of the population that's not enough (which is incredibly, sad...), though perhaps this incentive...
@ UA -- My apologies, you're of course completely correct, and I updated that portion of the post to reflect that. To be clear, I've been 100% in favor of getting vaccinated, and I got vaccinated the second I could, because being able to protect others and myself is way more than enough incentive. My point was that for some portion of the population that's not enough (which is incredibly, sad...), though perhaps this incentive will mean more to them. Again, that's not how it should be, but...
Great, now time for everyone to get in shape so we can stop this overweight and obesity problem in this country. Get to the gym!!!
We need reliable vaccine passports, and we need them yesterday. Separately, businesses should institute waivers requiring anyone caught lying about vaccination status indemnify them against all losses resulting from COVID infections, and then pony up for a hefty punitive fine to boot.
@Jeffrey Chang - Japan has 2.9 flu deaths per 100,000 and we run at about 15. Five times as much. And here's a shocker - there's a lot of mask wearing in Japan during flu season. Ding ding ding. If we stop being asinine and self-absorbed, we'll all take your suggestion and wear masks as a courtesy to other humans and to reduce the strain on our medical system. Might solve half our healthcare problems right there and then.
I am a primary care physician in a liberal city. My practice (a private group) has notified our patient panel that vaccination is required for office visits. Patients have 12 weeks to be vaccinated, or they will be fired from the practice. We will make every effort to help those who want it get it, but those who refuse are no longer a good fit for our practice.
"Masks will no longer be required in restaurants for vaccinated people"
I always found it just a bit difficult to eat with my mask on. So I guess now the restaurant experience will be a bit more enjoyable, without a mask full of food stains.
Personally I not wear a mask if mandated. More and more states, even before this, are eliminating mask requirements.
My entire family is vaccinated. It isn’t my job to protect others. They can get vaccinated (there is plenty of supply) or stay home. Sorry but it comes down to personal responsibility regarding your situation. For Biden and more liberal states to continue mask requirements is offensive to many and only virtue signaling. If you...
Personally I not wear a mask if mandated. More and more states, even before this, are eliminating mask requirements.
My entire family is vaccinated. It isn’t my job to protect others. They can get vaccinated (there is plenty of supply) or stay home. Sorry but it comes down to personal responsibility regarding your situation. For Biden and more liberal states to continue mask requirements is offensive to many and only virtue signaling. If you are vaccinated you are very unlikely to get COVID and even more unlikely to transmit it.
Get back to a normal life people - quit being afraid.
Agree with The Original Donna - wish the CDC would change that requirement in order to return to the states.
Also - even though I am fully vaccinated, it doesn't mean that I am 100% protected from Covid. So I am concerned about non-vaccinated people not wearing a mask.
Very T-I-C:
"There is no widespread fraud involving people claiming to be fully vaccinated, when in fact they have not yet received a single dose".
I agree with several previous comments that unvaccinated people may use the CDC guidance to stop wearing masks as well.
The one good consequence of that is that they get to serve as the canaries in the mine:-(
@jeffrey chang who asks
"Are you going to wear a mask every flu season to save these 30K lives?"
Thanks for the suggestion. Sounds like a great idea.
There has been controversy about a vaccination passport. Should we allow for special privileges for some based on status especially if it requires providing personal information.
It seems to me that there is something already around that is similar-- GOES card and TSA Passport -- that one can choose to sign up for and produce the required documentation. Then you get the benefits.
Great news for vaccinated Americans on the mask issue. Now, when do they waive the requirement that fully vaccinated Americans be COVID tested negative within 72 hours prior to returning to the USA on an international flight?
@ Jeffery I Chang....they should for the seasonal virus. Especially those that are concerned about the children as the seasonal virus is more deadly for the children than corona.
The majority of western cultures perceive masks to mean the environment is not safe. Businesses cannot continue to mandate mask wearing because they will lose enough customers that are not willing to spend money under restrictions that are not compatible with the way western society has operated for centuries.
It has been and always will be an option for people that do not feel comfortable with the way society operates including regarding normal public hygiene...
The majority of western cultures perceive masks to mean the environment is not safe. Businesses cannot continue to mandate mask wearing because they will lose enough customers that are not willing to spend money under restrictions that are not compatible with the way western society has operated for centuries.
It has been and always will be an option for people that do not feel comfortable with the way society operates including regarding normal public hygiene procedures to stay home. Vaccination has returned covid to the level of risk comparable to long-standing respiratory diseases or less.
Watch out everyone! This virus is NOT done and we still must wear masks. I think all maskers especially those from New York, New Jersey, And California should NOT travel anywhere, or even go outside. Please stay inside your homes where it is safe from anti- maskers. Remember- 2 weeks to flatten the curve!
This is a non-issue to me. Wasn’t wearing one unless the business required it and they will still be requiring a mask as they will not be able to distinguish between vaxxers and non-vaxxers.
@AT
No.
We are at a point in the recovery that those who wanted the vaccine have by and large gotten it. We are now left to people who might be skeptical on the vaccine, especially its effectiveness. As such, to encourage vaccinations we need to take risks and begin the riskier parts of reopening such as mask mandates. The US covid numbers are on the floor and we are still trending in the right direction. This is a good thing.
Headline on nj.com, on my state, looks like thanks to our governor the same restrictions will continue on masks!
"Masks still required, rules remain in N.J. as Gov. Murphy reviews new CDC guidance"
We are one of the few states that still forces schools and daycares to quarantine children for 10 or 14 days who travel out of state even though they cant be vaccinated! Just found out first hand after traveling to Maryland last...
Headline on nj.com, on my state, looks like thanks to our governor the same restrictions will continue on masks!
"Masks still required, rules remain in N.J. as Gov. Murphy reviews new CDC guidance"
We are one of the few states that still forces schools and daycares to quarantine children for 10 or 14 days who travel out of state even though they cant be vaccinated! Just found out first hand after traveling to Maryland last weekend and got forced on this for 3 year old daughter's preschool! Doesn't bode well for travel plans this summer including out of state road trips if the silly restriction continues.
@Bobo +1
Back in December in the NYT, there was a collection of comments from various folks, and one of the answers to the question "what will never return to normal?" stuck with me: "My relationships with people who have taken this pandemic lightly"
@sharon Unless your children have a significant health issue they are not at risk...especially from other vaccinated people. @bill and @notlucky covid is not going to ever go away there will always be cases. I suspect it will be a yearly vaccination just as people are offered flu shots yearly. Luckily this vaccine is much more effective than flu vaccine.
@Will totally agree.
@Bobo Bolinski: does your latter category include anyone who criticizes pandemic measures?
@Juliua
"Maybe try acting like a wonderful caring person for a change?"
So even with the flu vaccine about 30,000 people die from the flu every year for it. Even worse it that the flu can spread via asymptomatic transmission.
Are you going to wear a mask every flu season to save these 30K lives?
The practical implications seem limited at this point. Indoor public spaces will likely require masks for a while longer. Outdoor public spaces, unlikely. Restaurants effectively already allow unmasked patrons at tables. Planes and trains and ubers will require masks for months more. Still a good sign for the pandemic
Another Lump: sometimes it´s better to shut up and let people think you may be stupid rather than open your mouth and remove all doubt.
Thank you to everyone who helped get the pandemic under control by listening to and following the CDC guidelines, by NOT traveling, by masking up in public and maintaining social distance, by getting vaccinated. And of course, the scientists who developed the vaccines, health care workers, and public health officials who helped guide the nation through this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who behaved like a responsible adult and a member of society. You rock.
...Thank you to everyone who helped get the pandemic under control by listening to and following the CDC guidelines, by NOT traveling, by masking up in public and maintaining social distance, by getting vaccinated. And of course, the scientists who developed the vaccines, health care workers, and public health officials who helped guide the nation through this pandemic. Thank you to everyone who behaved like a responsible adult and a member of society. You rock.
And a big middle finger to all the selfish a-holes who refused to be responsible (and continue to do so), who push back against every single simple common-sense public health mandate, who can not be bothered to do a damn thing for anyone else and only think of themselves.
The pandemic has really sucked, but it certainly has been very, very effective at revealing the character of individuals.
I hope Bill is wrong, but I suspect he is spot on. I'll be wearing my mask until my whole family is fully vaccinated at the least. And I'll continue to wear it in gatherings with people I don't know (i.e. don't know if they're vaccinated) until this thing is gone.
@ Bill- take a lap. If one is vaccinated, one is protected from COVID- the status of those around you doesn't matter.
I feel like the folks who accuse mask wearers of "virtue signaling" are projecting their own feelings that mask wearing (or not) is necessarily a political statement. People might have their own reasons to continue to mask up, like if they or someone close to them can't get vaccinated. For me, I was a germaphobe before COVID, and I'll continue to wear a mask on public transportation, since I liked not getting colds or flu...
I feel like the folks who accuse mask wearers of "virtue signaling" are projecting their own feelings that mask wearing (or not) is necessarily a political statement. People might have their own reasons to continue to mask up, like if they or someone close to them can't get vaccinated. For me, I was a germaphobe before COVID, and I'll continue to wear a mask on public transportation, since I liked not getting colds or flu over the past year! Mask wearing also helps me with seasonal allergies.
"I assume we’ll now be using the honor system" Get ready for the number of covid cases to surge as the anti-vaxxers proceed to lie about being vaccinated so they can go maskless indoors and thereby expose those who are immune compromised or otherwise could not receive the vaccines to covid. We need vaccine passports before we can have this policy because it is abundantly clear that many in this country will lie about their...
"I assume we’ll now be using the honor system" Get ready for the number of covid cases to surge as the anti-vaxxers proceed to lie about being vaccinated so they can go maskless indoors and thereby expose those who are immune compromised or otherwise could not receive the vaccines to covid. We need vaccine passports before we can have this policy because it is abundantly clear that many in this country will lie about their vaccination status and simply can not be trusted to do the right thing.
Al - because I have children who can't get vaccinated.
"I would expect that most businesses will lift these requirements for vaccinated people" And how do you think this will work? Will they insert chips on people that are vaccinated? Or do you think that little piece of handwritten paper will do it? For example, you go to the gym. Will they check when you check in if you have been vaccinated? If so, will they issue you a wristband so you can walk around...
"I would expect that most businesses will lift these requirements for vaccinated people" And how do you think this will work? Will they insert chips on people that are vaccinated? Or do you think that little piece of handwritten paper will do it? For example, you go to the gym. Will they check when you check in if you have been vaccinated? If so, will they issue you a wristband so you can walk around without a mask? As always, people in DC will leave it to businesses to figure out how to deal with it. What a mess!!!
“But then how am I going to virtue signal what a wonderful, caring, and obedient person I am?”
Maybe try acting like a wonderful caring person for a change?
Glad masks on airplanes are still required. I highly doubt people who have not gotten vaccines will still wear masks. CDC has to know that people whom have not gotten vaccines are extremely unlikely to keep wearing masks.
@justsayin If you're vaccinated, why do you need to worry about "trusting" others that they are vaccinated? Hate to break it to you, but there are going to be lots of people who will not get vaccinated. But the bright side is, unvaccinated people are no threat to the vaccinated. So allow people to make that choice and stop trying to control people's lives.
I suspect that risk averse businesses will still be free to and will continue to mandate masks for patrons. The local Asian supermarket has been strict about masking up since last March and I suspect they'll be one of the last businesses in the area to end the requirements.
@ Another Lump:
I live in a progressive city, and when I go hiking on a local trail that's is always sparsely populated with people I would say that over half the people are still wearing masks even though social distancing is taking place, and even though at this point it's common knowledge that outdoor transmission is very rare when social distancing is taking place. The mask wearers on the trail include bikers and...
@ Another Lump:
I live in a progressive city, and when I go hiking on a local trail that's is always sparsely populated with people I would say that over half the people are still wearing masks even though social distancing is taking place, and even though at this point it's common knowledge that outdoor transmission is very rare when social distancing is taking place. The mask wearers on the trail include bikers and runners, people performing high-tempo activities with heavy breathing (and which a mask is suffocating for). This is all despite the revised CDC directives and despite all adults being vaccinated at this point who want to be in the US (and I am quite sure the vast majority of continual mask wearers on the trails are vaccinated). It's pretty obvious at this point that for many progressives, wearing a mask in circumstances like this (outdoors and socially distanced) has become a political statement and they are indeed virtue signaling, just like not wearing a mask in any circumstance (indoors or outdoors) has marked one a MAGA supporter during the Pandemic. I continue to wear a mask indoors, and I will probably continue to do so in the foreseeable future when I am in an indoor venue that's crowded and not possible to socially distance in even when the mandate requiring me to do so goes away. However, it's silly to me that in parks and on trails people continue to mask up. It just shows how politically sensitive and extreme many people have become on both sides of the political aisle.
I see you, Thompson Dallas! :)
How they are going to prove that you got vaccinated?
That would be a great idea if we could trust Americans to wear a mask if they weren’t vaccinated.
Now ask yourself Do you trust your fellow Americans to be on the honor system?
@Ben: earlier I mentioned this in a comment for a different post of yours, but here it is again for those who want to travel to Germany or transit through Germany and has an EU passport:
Huge (beneficial) changes for vaccinated travellers into Germany as of today https://www.germany.info/us-en/covid-19/2321562
It seems the German government actually looks at the science and acts according to its findings
Again why the CDC cannot be trusted. How about those who are not vaccinated, will they obey to put on their mask? I don't think so. It's all or none with masks until herd.
And I'm sure by next week or so we'll still so Dr Fauci or someone again declare to avoid indoor restaurants with or without vaccine!
I will continue to wear my mask inside public places to protect my children who have not received the vaccine.
I will not put my children's lives at risk
The airline mask mandate should end, then, if the Administration is truly "following the science" as they claim.
As far as non-vaccinated people lying and not wearing one... Those people weren't wearing them (or doing so half-assed) in the first place.
But then how am I going to virtue signal what a wonderful, caring, and obedient person I am?