# 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:** 7
**Author:** ![eenerms](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/cdc98d/32.png) [@eenerms](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eenerms)\ **Post date:** [April 29, 2020, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/121 "2020-04-29T19:49:30Z")
Just got an email you have to wear one to go into Costco. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/122 "2020-04-30T11:38:45Z")
I stopped for gas yesterday and the credit card reader at the pump was out of order, so I had to go in to the minimart prepay. In PA you must wear a mask/face covering to enter any store, so I put mine on. By the door stood a distraught dude who wasn’t wearing a mask. The guy wanted to get something from the minimart, but he had no mask. So, he asked if he could “borrow” mine. Seriously. I replied, “hell, no” and walked way around him and headed for the door. He decided to argue about the mask borrowing, and approached me. I backpedaled and told him to get the fuck away from me, then maneuvered to the door and entered. The masked cashier told me she’d called the cops on the guy, and as I was paying they arrived. The cashier told the police that the masked-less dude had harassed me, so I told them what had happened and gave them my contact info. They arrested him and took him away. Interestingly, the cops put masks on to enter the store, but immediately removed them when they went out to deal with the crazy dude. ---
**Author:** ![MissTake](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misstake/32/3189_2.png) [@MissTake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MissTake)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 11:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/123 "2020-04-30T11:54:18Z")
Very, very few people are wearing masks around here. Be it in a convenience store or big box store, maybe 1 in 10 (if not less) are wearing anything on their faces. It’s somewhat frustrating as we just had a total of 38 people die in two neighborhood nursing homes. Well, they were residents! True, but most of the employees that work in those nursing homes live here. When walking the neighborhood, most people are not wearing them; however, there’s always quick shifting to the other side of the road / moving into someone’s yard when other people are coming near. ---
**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:** [April 30, 2020, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/124 "2020-04-30T12:15:33Z")
On our walk yesterday evening we counted 60 people with masks, 7 without. But on this morning’s walk the numbers were closer to even. We have a mandatory mask order in place that just went live yesterday, with a 1 week grace period where the police will warn. ---
**Author:** ![ThelmaLou](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thelmalou/32/390_2.png) [@ThelmaLou](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThelmaLou)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2020, 12:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/125 "2020-04-30T12:21:23Z")
> [@pullin](#): > > Just got 100 [masks](https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B086KMYNSS/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1) from Amazon. Not N95, but seem to be an acceptable substitute. About 80 bucks total, and took less than a week. Made in China-- gotta love it! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Kedikat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ed655f/32.png) [@Kedikat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kedikat)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/126 "2020-05-01T06:45:10Z")
Yes. Wearing a mask. Mostly to protect myself. Not infected. I happen to have a face shape that lets it fit very well. I regularly go through courses at work for respirator certification. So I can judge a good fit. Still keep a distance while wearing it. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/127 "2020-05-01T11:48:02Z")
> [@Kedikat](#): > > I happen to have a face shape that lets it fit very well. My gf claims her head is too small for a good mask fit, while my head (now that I am hairless) is a perfect fit for a mask. I’ve been calling her a “pinhead” and she’s been calling me a “pumpkin head”. ---
**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/128 "2020-05-01T14:52:21Z")
I wear my mask when I enter a retail establishment, like the grocery store, hardware store, or a restaurant to pick up a take-out order. Interestingly, about half the folks in the grocery store are wearing masks, but less than 10% in the hardware store and the restaurants. I do not wear a mask on my walk each morning, although I carry it in my pocket, so it’s there if I need it. Thus far, I haven’t had a need to don my mask during a walk. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2020, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/129 "2020-05-01T22:07:05Z")
In the past couple of days, I’ve had to make a few quick stops at businesses - the bank machine in the lobby of the bank, an envelope drop-off at FedEx, and an Amazon package pickup outside 7-Eleven. At each place, numerous people were going in with no face coverings. As I’ve said earlier, I always wear mine if I have to be indoors in a public place, and my visits are extremely limited. I haven’t been to a grocery store in 5 weeks. I’m extra on-edge now that my daughter is a supermarket cashier (and won’t qualify for health insurance through work for 2 more months, and not until next month on the ACA). I am now going to start announcing to everyone who’s barefaced indoors in a public place, **"Better watch out, I’ve been exposed.**" Maybe then people will get why it’s important they wear a face covering. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 12:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/130 "2020-05-02T00:01:02Z")
**Thudlow Boink,** I have sewn bunches of masks and have plenty of extras. PM me your address and I’ll mail you one. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/131 "2020-05-02T00:03:15Z")
I’ve been wearing one. Just seems prudent. About half the people I see at stores are wearing them. Oddly I see people who obviously came together but not doing the same thing. I’d have thought they would either all wear them or none wear them. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/132 "2020-05-02T00:36:02Z")
Surprisingly, every single person I saw at the grocery store this morning was wearing a mask. Some not too well, but they had them on. It wasn’t Geezer Hour (where they are required or you don’t get in the door) either. Given that I live in one of the reddest parts of a blue state, I would have expected more denial. ---
**Author:** ![Bookkeeper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bookkeeper/32/281_2.png) [@Bookkeeper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bookkeeper)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 5:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/133 "2020-05-02T05:19:30Z")
I had an N95 mask and a couple of R95s left over from doing drywall in my laundry room a few years ago. I keep one in the car, and put it on before I get out. It’s sprayed with 99% alcohol from my hobby supplies when I get home and swapped for one of the others. I also have a bottle of hand sanitizer which I use as soon as I get back to the car, and alcohol wipes that I carry with me to wipe down cart handles before I use them. Hands washed as soon as I get home. Most grocery shopping is online with curb pickup (PCExpress is great, with all fees waived for the moment), and the same for other essentials like cat food and prescriptions. If I need something from the grocery between online orders, I can go during senior hour. I don’t wear one on my own property, or when going for a walk (but I do carry one when walking, just in case). I still see a lot of people who don’t have any kind of face cover going into stores, though. I was lucky in that I had everything needed already on hand for other uses, with no need to search out limited supplies. ---
**Author:** ![LurkMeister](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/3da27b/32.png) [@LurkMeister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LurkMeister)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 2:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/134 "2020-05-02T14:08:36Z")
I’ve been wearing a bandana whenever I go out. Yesterday I had to go to the hospital and after the at-the-door screening they gave me a paper mask. It is much more comfortable than the bandana, and the metal clip keeps my glasses from fogging up. So I kept it and wore it this morning when I went to the farmers market, and will keep it for future use. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/135 "2020-05-02T15:16:22Z")
> [@freckafree](#): > > **Thudlow Boink,** I have sewn bunches of masks and have plenty of extras. PM me your address and I’ll mail you one. Thank you for your kind offer, **freckafree** , but I have ordered some and they are supposedly on their way to me. The one time I’ve gone out in public since my last post here, I wore something that I rigged up from a cut-up old t-shirt and a couple of rubber bands. It worked, I guess, in that it covered my nose and mouth and stayed on, though I was worried it wouldn’t: it kinda kept trying to pull off my ears, and I had to readjust it a couple of times. This would have been a few days ago, before the governor’s order to wear masks took effect, and IIRC more than half the people I saw were not wearing masks, although they did mostly seem to be staying at least 6 feet apart from other people. ---
**Author:** ![CelticKnot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/celticknot/32/3392_2.png) [@CelticKnot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CelticKnot)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2020, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/136 "2020-05-02T21:06:03Z")
They are not mandated in this area, and we haven’t been severely hit by COVID. I know of one colleague (and her husband) who think they caught it, but they haven’t been tested. She’s a teacher and he works from home, so they aren’t in danger of spreading it. No one else I know as been diagnosed, and I suspect we all had it months ago. I don’t personally know anyone who died from it and only one person known to anyone in my circle of acquaintances. I carry a handkerchief-and-elastic-loop mask in case it’s required, but it’s not even required at the stores, so no, I don’t wear one. We went on the obligatory weekly shopping trip this morning, and I’d say a third to a half of the people were wearing them. Store employees wore them, but almost never the right way except at the greenhouse. :dubious: Most cashiers had the loops on their ears but the mask below their chin. At one store, I restrained myself from saying to the bagger, “I hope your beard stays healthy.” One cashier had the mask below her chin and wore one glove. 😕 I feel like around here it is more of a security theater thing than something actually useful. I want to make better masks for myself and Mr. CelticKnot, but first I have to get him to stop dumping his stuff in my tiny sewing area. I have some silk, so I’m going to find some cotton scraps from my stash and make 2-layer masks that aren’t as bulky and uncomfortable as the aforementioned ones. I bought the silk years ago to make…face masks! I found silk face masks that were marketed for protection for allergy and asthma sufferers, but moved and found I didn’t need them as much. ---
**Author:** ![tinytantan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@tinytantan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tinytantan)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/137 "2021-07-23T04:05:16Z")
Vaccinated or not I think we should still wear masks because the vaccine won’t protect us 100%. ---
**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:** [July 23, 2021, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/138 "2021-07-23T04:58:27Z")
For a year and a half, we’ve been repeatedly told to “follow the science”. Now that the CDC guidelines say that masks aren’t (generally) necessary for fully-vaccinated people, some no longer want to “follow the science”. What’s up with that? ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/139 "2021-07-23T05:12:25Z")
I’ve been fully vaccinated since January, the wife since about March. Hawaii no longer mandates masks be worn outdoors. But the wife and I still won’t even walk down the street without wearing a mask. The most we’ll do is maybe remove it while strolling along the beach, but that’s it. We’re simply not going to take any chances. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [July 23, 2021, 11:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448/140 "2021-07-23T11:42:39Z")
> [@tinytantan](#): > > Vaccinated or not I think we should still wear masks because the vaccine won’t protect us 100%. Your reasoning for vaccinated people to continue wearing masks fails to consider local disease prevalence, which is a factor in your risk of infection. By your logic, everyone everywhere should wear masks as long as anyone anywhere has COVID. This is not reasonable. Establishing a prudent mask/no-mask threshold prevalence is challenging, partly because there’s an element of subjectivity to it: some individuals will not feel comfortable removing their mask even if the risk is shown to be substantially lower than other risks with which they do feel comfortable. But to completely ignore prevalence doesn’t make sense. > [@D\_Anconia](#): > > For a year and a half, we’ve been repeatedly told to “follow the science”. Now that the CDC guidelines say that masks aren’t (generally) necessary for fully-vaccinated people, some no longer want to “follow the science”. What’s up with that? Individuals who eschew masks when the science says they’re necessary put the people around them at risk. Such people are rightly ostracized. Individuals who continue wearing a mask when science says they’re no longer necessary aren’t putting anyone at risk. They may be irrational germophobes, or they may be ahead of their time (some areas of the US are putting mask mandates back in place as the Delta variant ramps up). While we may scratch our heads when we contemplate their degree of risk aversion, they’re not hurting anyone by wearing a mask, so they should be free to do whatever they want. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448.md?page=6) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-you-wearing-a-mask-if-you-go-out-in-public/852448.md?page=8)