# Are you wearing a mask if you go out in public? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [April 23, 2020, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448 "2020-04-23T16:39:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 13
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/243 "2021-07-31T15:28:51Z")
It’s frustrating. Employers are following the CDC guidance, which is slow and ambiguous. The Delta is the worst version of COVID. It’s one of the most transmissible viruses in recorded history, in fact. If one person brings it into the office, it is highly, highly likely that everyone in that office will become infected, including those who’ve been vaccinated. It’s just that the vaccinated stand a much better chance of having very mild symptoms, but they can still pass it on to others. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/244 "2021-07-31T15:30:21Z")
Right, but my employer provides employment law advice to other employers, including on ADA issues, etc. So I’d like to think they are keeping even better tabs on the situation than the vast majority of employers. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/245 "2021-07-31T15:51:51Z")
My employer just returned to required full indoor masking regardless of vaccination status (outdoors is still optional) as of Friday. They’ve been pretty cautious and somewhat proactive throughout the pandemic and even here in the somewhat-better-vaccinated-than-average Bay Area the Delta variant is making rapid strides. It’s possible they are only a couple of days ahead of a new public mandate from local counties. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 4:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/246 "2021-07-31T16:06:32Z")
I have started masking again. I’m fully vaccinated and live in fairly calm region. But I don’t need it to become a hotspot, so I’ll mask. ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 4:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/247 "2021-07-31T16:28:00Z")
> [@asahi](#): > > But a lot of people don’t fit into that category. A lot of people reading this are well into their 40s, and many are seniors. The data that’s gradually starting to emerge is that the people who were vulnerable and lining up to get their vaccines back in January and February…are probably just as vulnerable now. They just might not know it yet It is probably true that immunity wanes over time. And it is certainly true that immunity to Delta is **somewhat** less than immunity to the previous variants. But I have not heard or read anything from any medical source to indicate that the first-vaccinated people have lost even the majority of that immunity. What I’ve seen indicates that the Covid shot is still, at minimum, as effective as the flu shot in an average year. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/248 "2021-07-31T16:41:11Z")
This is Israel’s Pfizer data. I hasten to add that this differs greatly from UK data, which puts efficacy at around 88%, and researchers are still trying to figure out why. > **[Israel says Pfizer Covid vaccine is just 39% effective as delta spreads, but...](https://www.cnbc.com/2021/07/23/delta-variant-pfizer-covid-vaccine-39percent-effective-in-israel-prevents-severe-illness.html)** > > Pfizer and BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine is just 39% effective against delta in Israel, but still provides strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization. I have to confess that I initially thought that the Israeli data had to be a huge error, but when you do a little deeper dive, it’s clear that they are seeing a pattern of waning immunity. It’s less clear what the actual percentages are, and there are some suspicions that Israel might be underestimating the strength of vaccine protection. However, Israel’s finding that vaccine protection wanes has been apparently corroborated by Pfizer’s own studies - so that checks out. How much? We don’t know. How much against Delta? We’re still not quite sure. But all signs are pointing to the need for a booster shot sometime in the late summer or early fall. ---
**Author:** ![Yogeekgirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yogeekgirl/32/4129_2.png) [@Yogeekgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yogeekgirl)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/249 "2021-07-31T17:00:56Z")
Rethinking this topic! I live in a fairly well-vaxxed and regulated area(Mpls) which looks presently to be “moderate” for the transmission rate, per MPRnews and CDC guidelines. [Do you need to wear a mask indoors where you live? | MPR News](https://www.mprnews.org/story/2021/07/28/npr-cdc-mask-guidelines-indoors-vaccinated-by-county-covid-spread) So we’re not in the suggested mask up at all times indoors…yet? Thinking about wearing a mask to work again. It’s low population/flexible workweek for the offices, and most people are vaccinated- however, many poeple also have young children at home. We’re dealing with wildfire smoke/terrible air quality as well so a good mask for indoors AND outdoors is not a bad idea going forward anyway. I’ve got extra in my tote bag! ---
**Author:** ![puzzlegal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puzzlegal/32/3827_2.png) [@puzzlegal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puzzlegal)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/250 "2021-07-31T19:34:38Z")
I just went to in-person CPR training, and i wore a mask. So yes. I was prepared to take it off if i needed to for the breathing exercises, but that’s on hold anyway (presumably due to the pandemic.) The instructor said, “you will indicate you are providing breaths by announcing that your are doing so, please don’t put your mouth on my equipment.” So i left my mask on. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2021, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/251 "2021-07-31T19:39:10Z")
> [@Krispy\_Original](#): > > …and all that pre-vaccine time I was endangered by anti- maskers. Now that Delta is flourishing and endangering the antimask and anti-vaccine crowd, I feel ZERO social obligation to continue to wear a mask for their sake. Let nature take its course with them…sorry but that’s my stance. Will your stance change if it turns out that vaccinated people can transmit new strains, even if these new variants can’t harm them personally? ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2021, 11:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/252 "2021-08-03T23:37:25Z")
Today my office building announced that, effective immediately, masking is required for everyone in common areas, including the elevators. Now if only my employer would require it within our suite… ---
**Author:** ![Mama\_Zappa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/253 "2021-08-04T05:15:13Z")
We are continuing to mask in public. Not so much if we’re outdoors taking a walk, but we always have a mask handy in case we come near someone. While we’re all fully vaccinated, the recent reports about how the delta variant is impacting a fair number of vaxxed people (albeit, usually far less seriously so), AND that there seems to be evidence that vaxxed people who do catch it are able to spread it, makes me want to keep up with the precautions indefinitely. When we travelled to New England last month, very, very few people wore masks in public. Less than 50% even in the one town in Vermont we visited; when we stopped for lunch en route we were the only people in the restaurant (including the staff) with face coverings. People simply abandoned them as soon as they legally could. Nope, nope, nope. Side anecdote: An email conversation today involving a task I need to do for work mentions the need to go to one of two places to accomplish some admin stuff. One of the two places is in Alabama. Yeah, no. One of the lowest vaccination rates and one of the highest COVID rates in the country. Nope. Luckily the other location is somewhere with a bit more sanity. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2021, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/254 "2021-08-04T17:19:07Z")
I was looking forward to going without a mask after my two Moderna shots, but then I heard about the dangerous Delta variant (on the SDMB, of course!), so now I am masking whenever I go out, which isn’t very often. Still working from home! ---
**Author:** ![dummygladhands71](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c0e974/32.png) [@dummygladhands71](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dummygladhands71)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/255 "2021-08-05T03:56:55Z")
yup. Grocery today was about 50% masked. ---
**Author:** ![Aspenglow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aspenglow/32/76_2.png) [@Aspenglow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Aspenglow)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/256 "2021-08-05T21:31:00Z")
Since reading there is mounting evidence that even vaccinated persons who get the much more contagious Delta variant can – albeit rarely – develop Long COVID, I’m continuing to mask as if it’s early 2020. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 5, 2021, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/257 "2021-08-05T23:57:32Z")
The post-infection complications sustained by the fully vaccinated aren’t being discussed nearly enough, but they exist and I doubt very many people here would want to deal with them. Very few fully vaccinated people need long-term hospital care, and very, very few vaccinated people die - true. But a LOT of fully vaccinated people have reported feeling miserable for a good 3-5 days, and as you say, an increasing number are reporting long-term symptoms. > **[Breakthrough COVID-19 infections after vaccination can lead to long-haul...](https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/07/28/breakthrough-covid-19-infections-can-lead-long-term-symptoms-study/5399083001/)** > > The findings raise questions about the coronavirus vaccines' protection and suggest that even vaccinated people could experience long-term symptoms. > Nearly 3% of medical workers in a new Israeli study contracted COVID-19 even though they were vaccinated, and 19% of them still had symptoms six weeks later To be fair, hospital workers are working in a far more hazardous environment and almost certainly around a far higher viral load than the average person, but it’s still reason for pause. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/258 "2021-08-06T00:42:39Z")
I don’t understand people who wear masks, by themselves, in their own car. A taxi or Uber, sure. But by yourself? What’s the thinking there? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 12:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/259 "2021-08-06T00:48:00Z")
I finally got this sucker on, fitted right, and not fogging up my glasses and I’m not taking it off for a 5 minute drive. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/260 "2021-08-06T00:52:21Z")
If you wear it often you don’t really notice it; it’s pretty easy to forget you are wearing it. And if you’re going in and out of the car into stores it’s just simple efficiency to keep it on. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/261 "2021-08-06T00:57:26Z")
One can also put it on in the parking lot at their destination. There are mirrors inside your car to help you get it fitted to your liking. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2021, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/262 "2021-08-06T01:09:39Z")
I don’t understand why you should care. They can wear it in their own home if they want to. The people who warrant attention aren’t the ones wearing masks in their cars; it’s the people who foolishly believe that the pandemic is over and feel entitled to threaten the rest of us with their irresponsible behavior that is unbecoming of a good citizen. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448.md?page=12) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448.md?page=14)