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Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

nytimes.com

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Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#271

Post by qqqwerty »

throwaway_4253 wrote: post #216
noodlesUK wrote: post #6

I’ve been in the US throughout this pandemic, and I’ve had to take it extremely seriously because of vulnerable people I live with. I’m glad to be vaccinated and for my life (and my family’s) to be returning to normal. I expect that I’ll continue wearing a mask from time to time even years from now if it becomes socially acceptable, because I like both the anonymity, and the wonders it does for my seasonal allergies.…

> * Right now, not doing so is a strong social signal that you’re a special kind of belligerent asshole that probably hasn’t been vaccinated, and wants to pick a fight... * Man, I'm sorry, but you read like the belligerent one here, judging people from afar. I wear a mask when possible (and will also likely continue to do so, despite being fully vaccinated) but this self-righteous attitude I think is an enormous part…

I think the belligerence comes from the fact that multiple people were killed during confrontations with anti-mask individuals.

I certainly sympathize with your experience. I behaved very similarly and got yelled at once or twice for not wearing a mask outside. But at no point was I worried that they were going to pull a gun on me. Meanwhile, people making close to minimum wage with minimal (if any) health benefits had to put up with the anti-mask zealots just so they could pay their rent and keep food on the table.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#272

Post by throwawayboise »

baby wrote: post #175
generj wrote: post #3

It’s good to give better incentives for people to be vaccinated, as many have urged for some time. I worry this carrot isn’t tied to an adequate stick - the unvaccinated can simply go without a mask regardless of their status. Will this move actually counter our slowing vaccination rates?

I traveled a bit during this pandemic and in Arizona it’s like the virus didn’t exist. Nobody was wearing a mask, nobody. Even indoor. Even the waiters. I’m back in SF now and everybody is wearing the mask. Everybody. The adults, the children, Even the vaccinated people. Yesterday the waiter asked me if we could put back our mask so she could hand us our plate. Country of extremes. I feel like there’s no going back t…

Was in Florida in March. Few masks anywhere. Almost none at bars and restaurants. It was nice to experience "normal" again. Some retail stores had "please wear a mask" signs up and I'd say the shoppers were about 70% compliant.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#273

Post by ComputerGuru »

unethical_ban wrote: post #258
covidthrow wrote: post #239

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I can't judge your cynicism, but I can say it's quite suspect that media outlets—apparently—behaved as the mouthpiece of the state: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=27145446

Why is it suspect? It's huge news, and will affect businesses, events, weddings, vacation, personal life for the millions of people who have still been taking public health and the CDC seriously. It's news. And I don't think it's surprising that they would have the scoop around the same time.

It’s not that it is all over the news nor that they all had the news at roughly the same time; it’s that they apparently released news saying the CDC said so before the CDC actually publicly said so.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#274

Post by xeromal »

908B64B197 wrote: post #20

On the west coast now more than one third of the population is fully vaccinated (excluding BC that is severely lagging behind). How long until coastal and urban counties reach 95%?

Most places are probably going to hover around 60-75%.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#275

Post by uoaei »

josephcsible wrote: post #181
sjg007 wrote: post #167

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Not really, < 12 is a big concern.

How so? The risk of a bad outcome from children under 12 catching COVID is basically nil.

A family can spread it to their child, who brings it to school and then home to their family. I agree the chances are lower, but even if the kids themselves don't have severe cases or bad outcomes, if they have any symptoms they are probably spreading it to the rest of their household.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#276

Post by refurb »

okaram wrote: post #61
kjsingh wrote: post #58

Who sowed the seed of doubt in me.. that vaccinated folks can still transfer the disease?

They can , but it is very unlikely.

Nope. Check out Singapore’s latest cluster. Multiple fully vaccinated people infected (9 at last count) who are spreading it to others.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#277

Post by covidthrow »

brighton36 wrote: post #191
arilotter wrote: post #54

Earlier quoted context omitted.

nobody gets hurt if you put the mask on.

Lets wait to see what the economic impacts of this fear culture brings, before announcing there are no casualties.

You're being downvoted, but it's abundantly clear that at least some view masking as a moral or intellectual signal, and this "othering" is certain to have some impact, either personally or socially.

Furthermore, just as many warned in the early days of the lockdowns that extended lockdown may induce unhealthy behavior—which is evidenced in significantly higher suicide, mental illness, drug abuse, and so on—there are certain to be some undesirable side-effects of vaccinated mask wearing. What those would amount to is not known, but certainly deserves to be explored and expressed.

Why it has been left to the fringe skeptics to dive into these n-th order consequences—some real; some imagined—in the presence of the greatest minds of our times is, quite frankly, deeply disturbing.

It seems the world has transformed everyone into reactionaries, while it should be patently obvious that we should all strive to be rational in these complicated times.

This speaks very poorly for what we've built over millennia, and leaves the lessons of history to floresce in the corners while everyone goes to war with their chosen side.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#278

Post by ripper1138 »

samatman wrote: post #148
robbrown451 wrote: post #145

I wish it was common and expected that those that want to go maskless, wear their vaccination cards around their necks. Not a requirement, but just having it be common enough that if you do, people will know what it means. Here in San Francisco, more than 50% of people are fully vaccinated, but everyone is still wearing masks, even outdoors. I don't think it is just that SF hasn't changed the mandate, it is more abou…

Early in the pandemic, I was That Guy. I was the only person wearing a mask in O'Hare in mid-February, when I was flying to my new home. I was That Guy in the grocery store, and CostCo, and at the bank. For almost a month. Oh I got looks. Lots of sidelong glances. Back then I think people subconsciously (or maybe consciously sometimes) figured the mask meant I was diseased. People would physically move away from me.…

Exactly! It has to start somewhere. I’ve been trying to be that guy. Downtown Seattle area is the same as OP described, although just barely starting to see more people go without masks outside. My wife even said so herself: she’ll stop wearing a mask “when most other people do”. A lot of people are probably thinking the same thing.

Re: Vaccinated Americans now may go without masks in most places, the CDC said

#279

Post by zuminator »

josephcsible wrote: post #211
zuminator wrote: post #202

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Instead of businesses having to verify, it would make more sense for the county or municipality to establish a policy based upon the prevailing positivity rate. If there's a low level of infection in the community, indoor masks are at the wearer's discretion, if there's a high level, indoor masks are mandatory. This would also establish a causal link between a getting vaccinated and helping to keep the community open…

Your suggestion is contrary to the CDC's guidance. It doesn't say that it's only safe for vaccinated people to stop wearing masks if the prevailing positivity rate is low.

The CDC guidelines are for individuals. As fully vaccinated individuals, you and I are safe to not wear a mask outdoors and indoors. But safe to go maskless indoors is not the same thing as free to go maskless indoors. That is up to the prevailing jurisdictional policy. As the CDC itself states, "[F]ully vaccinated people can resume activities without wearing a mask or physically distancing, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidance."

So the problem still exists of what communities will do, if anything, to protect their citizens, both those who are vaccinated and those who are not? One response to that is to just let people do what they want and let the chips fall as they may. Another response is for communities to be proactive iff there is a local outbreak, with the aim of preventing it from getting even worse. The option of leaving it up to businesses to individually decide to protect their customers or not seems untenable. A business will be just be asking for trouble to take it upon itself to verify which customers have been vaccinated or not.

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