# How soon will you give up what precautions? **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [February 23, 2022, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008 "2022-02-23T15:49:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Horatius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horatius/32/3572_2.png) [@Horatius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horatius)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/21 "2022-02-23T22:47:06Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I was a little surprised, even, to see the workers inside the garage wearing masks – and there was only two of them, and there was plenty of open space. [Seems he was right!](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1HnvQM465zM) ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/22 "2022-02-23T22:47:24Z")
I’m looking primarily now at the daily death rate rather than the case rate; given the high transmissibility but relatively low lethality of omnicron, this seems more appropriate. As it’s fallen into the double digits in Illinois (out of a population of 12.5 million) I’m going to relax things a bit. The main thing is that I’ll resume eating in restaurants and seeing movies in theaters, as long as they aren’t crazy crowded, and will be willing to take public transportation. I’m going to wait until it gets into the single digits before I go back to big mass gatherings like concerts or ballgames; I would like to wait until then to fly, but my wife insists we are going to our nephew’s wedding in April come hell or high case numbers. I’m guessing here on the North Side of Chicago, many businesses will continue to enforce mask mandates even after they are no longer required. I’m planning to continue masking in indoor public places for the foreseeable future. I guess I’ll look at the numbers and what others are doing to decide when to stop that. I think during flu season, though, masks may now become a standard accessory for me. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2022, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/23 "2022-02-23T22:49:15Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > Locally, mask mandates are still in place but _nobody_ follows them. fwiw, my location is different. Most of the places I go don’t have legally-required mask mandates, but most shops still request them on the door. And almost everyone complies. I’m seeing mostly high-quality masks these days, too. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/24 "2022-02-23T22:53:55Z")
I walked into Walgreens at Lawrence and Western without a mask a few weeks ago and didn’t notice for a couple minutes. I was quite surprised that nobody told me to put one on in that time. It’s pretty much unheard of around here to see anyone in a store unmasked. ---
**Author:** ![Lancia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lancia/32/17174_2.png) [@Lancia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lancia)\ **Post date:** [February 23, 2022, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/25 "2022-02-23T22:54:20Z")
I’m envious. I wish locals would follow the mandates but this it deep red Trump country and refusing to comply with the mandate is a point of political pride for ~70% of the locals. We also have one of the lowest vaccination rates in the state. So to to answer the OP, I’m a fairly died-in-the-wool introvert so things like concerts and ball games were never my thing anyway. I don’t know if I’ll ever go to a crowded movie theater again. I tend to either shop in the off hours or do curbside delivery. Pandemic or not, I don’t see those things changing. I’ll likely forgo the mask after the CDC drops its recommendations to wear them. ---
**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:** [February 23, 2022, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/26 "2022-02-23T23:17:15Z")
> [@Lancia](#): > > I’m envious. One of my favorite signed says, “Please be kind. People are in different places. Masks are welcome but not required” I assume they’ve had some issues, but never that I’ve noticed. Last time i was there it was about 70% masked, and everyone was pleasant to other shoppers. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2022, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/27 "2022-02-24T00:28:58Z")
> [@Thudlow\_Boink](#): > > Masks are uncomfortable and make communication harder (harder to hear and understand what someone’s saying when they’re wearing a mask). You should see the scene at the Otolaryngologist’s office. Between the patient and receptionist both wearing masks, and the plexiglass barrier, there’s a lot of shouting. People shouldn’t have to shout to be heard, let alone shouting their personal information all over the waiting room. ---
**Author:** ![suranyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e36b37/32.png) [@suranyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suranyi)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/28 "2022-02-24T00:37:45Z")
Just one minor point that I want to bring up, because I’ve seen it mentioned several times. Just because one is an introvert doesn’t mean they don’t like concerts. I’m a huge introvert, but also a huge live music fan. That means I often go to concerts alone and talk to nobody, but I enjoy the music. ---
**Author:** ![nelliebly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nelliebly/32/5422_2.png) [@nelliebly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nelliebly)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/29 "2022-02-24T01:13:30Z")
I’ll wear a mask until it’s clear that it’s safe to stop. I have an autoimmune disorder, so those shrugging off the mask mandates are a threat to me. I mean, kudos to those of you who are convinced you won’t get a serious case now that you’re vaxxed and boosted, but you’ll still present a threat to me and others like me. Maybe keep that in mind. > [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > The problem is that “single ply bandana worn covering the mouth” and “mask worn under someone’s nose”, neither of which are any good at preventing disease, both count as satisfying the mask mandate. Not around here, they don’t, which is probably why I very seldom see those any more. Sure, some masks are better than others, but that bandana BS is never seen here now. > [@iamthewalrus\_3](#): > > I feel the same way about mask mandates. I _wish_ they had been enforced. Since it’s become clear that they won’t be, we should get rid of them. I STRONGLY disagree. Yes, I wish mask mandates were better enforced. It’s too bad that we live in an era where violence is so prevalent that shoplifters are allowed to steal without interference because they might attack store employees, but there are still a lot of people who take the mandate seriously and see it as a sign it’s not safe to go maskless. Complain–as I have–when the mandate is not enforced, but saying, in effect, “If there’s no enforcement, screw the science,” is neither logical nor compassionate. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/30 "2022-02-24T01:45:17Z")
Just got a message that as of next week, Chicago Archdiocese schools (Catholic) will be masks optional as of next Monday. One of my daughters is in the system; the other is in public school. I haven’t heard anything about CPS (Chicago Public Schools) going mask optional yet. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/31 "2022-02-24T02:10:50Z")
My understanding is that CPS has a mask mandate for at least the rest of the year written into the teachers’ contract after the recent mini-strike. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/32 "2022-02-24T02:36:19Z")
My job has a detailed 6 month re-entry plan set to begin at the end of March. Just like my employer to be late to the dance! I’m sure it will be obsolete before it begins. I’ll likely protect myself and others by avoiding crowds as much as convenient. Could easily imagine wearing a mask at concerts or in big crowds, in some stores, and of course, in doctor’s offices or anywhere else required. No plans to fly anywhere this year. ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 2:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/33 "2022-02-24T14:00:24Z")
I’m pretty much past taking precautions for myself. No mask unless explicitly required and I wouldn’t think twice now about dining out, going on holiday or going to crowded spaces. I’m vaccinated, boosted and as protected as I’m ever going to be so back to normal as much as possible. If I were to be ill in any way then I would protect those around me by using a mask in closed, busy spaces and avoiding contact as much as possible. I find that a sensible balance. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/34 "2022-02-24T15:23:37Z")
I had a feeling that was the case. I’m fine with it, but I’ll let the other one go unmasked if she wishes. She is recently fully vaxxed (as is the other one, though this one was later to the party due to her needle phobia.) **Novelty\_Bubble** exactly describes my attitude. I’m flying to Houston in two weeks; the month after I’m flying to Punta Cana (all for work.) But I’ve been flying since May of last year, so nothings changed there. ---
**Author:** ![MandaJo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ac91a4/32.png) [@MandaJo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MandaJo)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/35 "2022-02-24T15:42:33Z")
> [@puzzlegal](#): > > I am perfectly happy to wear a mask at the grocery store, on the subway, and when going to the doctor forever. Masks in those situations are no big deal. Its masks at work that I am sick of. They are uncomfortable when you wear them 6 orn8 hours straight, every day. They make it much harder to be understood when speaking to the class. They make it difficult or impossible to speak discretely to a student. They make it hard to determine if kids are understanding my lecture. When a kid comments in class, I don’t know which kid it was, often as not. None of these are impossible to overcome. If it’s helping save lives, I can deal with it. But at some point (maybe when COVID cases are below some decided upon level in the community?), we need to talk about what danger an unmasked person really presents. For lots of people, mask or no mask is an all-day every day issue and i feel like these conversations often characterize it as being about willingness to wear a mask for an hour or less. I strongly suspect that my vaxxed, boosted, COVID-recovered self, in a community where there isn’t much spread and less every day, has almost no chance of catching it, and if I do, will almost certainly have such a low viral load that I’m unlikely to spread it, even unmasked. COVID is never going away entirely. Do some of you strongly pro-mask people feel like you’ll be in masks forever, because as long as anyone is getting COVID, no good person should go about unmasked? ---
**Author:** ![racer72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/racer72/32/3075_2.png) [@racer72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racer72)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/36 "2022-02-24T16:04:14Z")
My wife and I will continue to mask as long as her elderly parents are still alive. Her mother is in a memory care facility, due to liability issues, they plan to continue with a mask requirement long after the mandate is stopped. Her father is now living by himself and has some health issues. My wife and I have been doing much of his shopping lately so he doesn’t have to go out in public. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/37 "2022-02-24T16:17:28Z")
Like I said, the large Agency I work for has announced procedures to begin end of March, for a 6-month “re-entry period.” There are many instances of interaction with the general public. The procedures require that everyone be masked, a lot of plastic screens have been installed, certain areas are to be cleaned between every use. It is going to be curious to see how/whether they actually apply such requirements. It is tough to turn a large organization around to address such situations, with the needs of the public, and various employee unions involved. ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [February 24, 2022, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/38 "2022-02-24T16:35:45Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > They are uncomfortable when you wear them 6 orn8 hours straight, every day. They make it much harder to be understood when speaking to the class. They make it difficult or impossible to speak discretely to a student. They make it hard to determine if kids are understanding my lecture. When a kid comments in class, I don’t know which kid it was, often as not. Yeah. Masks while teaching _suck_, and I don’t intend to keep wearing one for one minute longer than my university requires it. (Currently, we are in this weird limbo where masks are required in instructional spaces while instruction is going on but not otherwise, which I can’t help feeling is completely backwards.) ---
**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:** [February 24, 2022, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/39 "2022-02-24T16:36:03Z")
> [@MandaJo](#): > > Do some of you strongly pro-mask people feel like you’ll be in masks forever, because as long as anyone is getting COVID, no good person should go about unmasked? I have the luxury of being able to work from home. And unlike “teaching elementary school”, which was a total disaster remotely, my department has been doing just fine, in many ways, we benefit from the flexibility of not having a commute and there are few downsides for our work. My department head wants us to go back to the office at least part time, despite that. But he has said that he doesn’t see any point in is doing so until there is no need to mask. I’m thinking i may wear a mask anyway, because as i said above, I’m older and i don’t mind masks very much. But i expect everyone around me to be unmasked. And i think that will be okay. Good masks that protect the wearer are now readily available. I’ll wear one of those, not one of those “contain my sneeze” masks. But I’ll only be doing it one or two days a week. I honestly don’t know what I’d want to do if it were all day every day. But no, i don’t think everyone needs to wear masks all the time going forward. I think people who have minor respiratory symptoms and don’t want to stay home, or who suspect they have recent exposure to flu or covid, should wear masks in public. And i think higher-risk people should continue to wear masks in public. (And people who don’t mind masks.) But i expect most people under 60 to take off their masks most of the time pretty soon, now. And i think that’s okay. ---
**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:** [February 24, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008/40 "2022-02-24T16:38:30Z")
> [@Fretful\_Porpentine](#): > > Currently, we are in this weird limbo where masks are required in instructional spaces while instruction is going on but not otherwise, which I can’t help feeling is completely backwards. That does seem backward. I spend a certain amount of time on a college campus that’s heavily masked. But it has a “one mask off” rule. If the instructor is vaccinated and has no recent exposure, the instructor can remove their mask while presenting to the class. The students are supposed to leave their masks on. But i think it does help the students “hear” the teacher if the teacher doesn’t need to wear a mask. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-soon-will-you-give-up-what-precautions/960008.md?page=3)