This past week was a whirlwind for me in many ways with a lot of work being done outside and inside our house. But the major news of the country was the CDC announcement about mask wearing. Boy – did things take a turn with that sudden announcement. At least it seemed sudden to me. Per their website:
- If you are fully vaccinated, you can resume activities that you did before the pandemic.
- Fully 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.
- If you haven’t been vaccinated yet, find a vaccine.
This was quickly followed by an announcement from the governor of North Carolina on May 14th:
Today, Governor Roy Cooper and North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Mandy K. Cohen, M.D. shared an update on the state’s COVID-19 progress. Throughout the pandemic, state officials have taken a data-driven approach and have been guided by the science in making decisions. Following yesterday’s guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that fully vaccinated individuals can safely do most activities without wearing a mask or the need to social distance from others, the state will remove its indoor mask mandate for most settings. Additionally, the state will lift all mass gathering limits and social distancing requirements. These changes are now in effect as of 1:30 PM today.
The problem I am seeing with this sudden shift is multi faceted. First of all – springing this on the service industry who has struggled to staff positions during the pandemic and expecting them to be able to react in a day to be fully operational at 100% is just not possible. Hopefully most of the establishments will ease back into full opening. I know several in our area that will still require the mask protocol and I applaud that. People just have to do what feels best for them and their situation. That has been my mantra all along. I am sure it is not the most popular line of thinking but that’s okay. While I would never think of not masking up during the past 14 months I also was one who limited my activities. If I wasn’t comfortable doing it – I didn’t. For those who don’t want to wear a mask now – just don’t go to those places that require it. And don’t be nasty about it. There is far too much of that going around.
There is still a good percentage of folks who are not (and many who never will be) vaccinated. That includes the younger population for whom there are no options of vaccination yet. There is always going to be a risk so once again – I feel each individual must do what feels appropriate for them. No haters on either side, please.
I do trust the science behind all of this. If we didn’t have science where would we be? I also have two family members who are in the health industry and I value their opinions as well as many friends in the industry. I have to trust my instincts as well and continue to do what feels “right” for me. Chris and I are grateful to be fully vaccinated but, of course, no vaccination is 100% effective so we will still practice caution.
I am looking forward to more normal interactions and activities. It will be wonderful to hug people and be together again. We attended in person church this past Sunday for the first time since February 2020. We were masked and attendance was way below 50% capacity so it was very safe. This week I am taking a short BFF trip with Ann and can’t wait. Now to just make sure the gas holds out….another thing to stress about but I have a fairly full tank so am feeling fairly good about the whole trip.
So what about you? How are you feeling about the changes in the mask mandates? Cautious? Excited? Thrilled? Anxious? Maybe like me a combination of all of the above? Leave me a comment and Comment for a Cause for Hospice of the Valley.
10 Comments
Leave a commentPaul and I will still err on the side of caution. We are still mandated to wear masks here in Spain but we can finally eat out in restuarants and went out for the first time on Sunday. I agree, live and let live is the best way to go these days.
You guys have really struggled in Spain as well and it is just one of those things we have to live with and wait until the time is right. So glad you can eat out –that was a huge thing for me last week at the beach being able to actually have a really. nice meal.
Love the photo! We may be done with masks, but I’ll never give up grocery delivery- at least for all the basics.
Grocery delivery is THE BEST! Even though we have to go pick ours up and don’t have home delivery it has changed my life!
I feel exactly the same way and it’s almost weird not to wear a mask anymore. I’m still a little hesitant especially since you don’t know who is vaccinated and who isn’t. I was able to snatch an appointment for Ally late last night and I’m so happy that we s a family will all be fully vaccinated soon.
I am so glad you got an appt for Ally! It is one of those dilemmas for sure and I am cautious but optimistic!
We have been attending in person church since Easter. The first couple of times we masked up. Our governor released the mask requirement. We are still cautious. Believe like you that people need to do what is comfortable for them.
I too am on the side of cautious. Chuck and I have always tried to pick and choose our surroundings for the past yr and half. Think we are going to give the masks a couple more week. Virginia is suppose to completely open up at the end of May. Enjoy your trip with your friend.
Despite having had both shots I still feel uneasy not wearing a mask when I go shopping. I’m elderly and live alone, so my outside time is in the yard so that”s not a worry,
While I’m fully-vaccinated, I struggle with this change in masking guidelines. It’s way too early to drop masking. I’m most concerned about children under age 12 who do not have the option of being protected. We owe it to them to keep them as safe as possible. And wearing a mask is one simple way to do that. I don’t trust that unvaccinated people will wear masks. I don’t believe that changing the mandate encourages vaccination, but rather discourages it.
We, too, attended church for the first time in 14 months on Sunday with masking and social distancing in place. That said, it is quite likely our church will drop masking requirements and any social distancing. I am particularly concerned about singing without masks. I gave my input. Unfortunately, if these changes occur, I likely will not return for awhile. Again, we owe it to the youngest to help protect them. Even in a faith setting, I don’t trust that unvaccinated will wear masks.
We dined out for the first time in 14 months. The restaurant requires masks and we ate outside. I won’t dine at a restaurant in town, (which has always been a favorite), but has very publicly opposed health and safety guidelines throughout the pandemic.
I will continue to mask indoors (at the grocery store, etc), but do feel fairly comfortable being unmasked outdoors.