Are we done with Face Masks ?

 

Masking up is one of the first things  we did to slow the spread of Covid-19.And it worked. 

Study after study has shown that when we  implemented and followed mask mandates cases fell. But now those mandates are being lifted and guidance from public  health experts is changing.

For many of us, it feels like we’re  headed toward a new phase in the pandemic But it’s not over. Not yet. 

So as we weather the third year with Covid-19 what do we do with the masks? 

The ideal risk mitigation is  to have everyone wearing masks. But, of course, we’re not going to wear masks all the time for the rest of our lives. 

Moving forward...

It will be left more to individuals in most settings to decide whether they feel  like they're at higher risk or it's a higher risk setting  where they want to wear a mask.

Fortunately, evidence shows that masks still offer protection even if you’re  the only person wearing one.

Especially N95 or KN95 types, which have  proven to be exceptionally effective.

This applies even if you’re  vaccinated and boosted. Layering your protection can reduce  the chance of a breakthrough infection. What I would hope is that  people would view masks as a wonderful, inexpensive medical intervention.

So when you’re deciding whether or not to mask up, consider the weather.

Not the real weather. Pandemic weather.

Which can rapidly change from week to week.

If it’s looking bad, you might want to  bring an umbrella

as in... wear a mask.

We're in an evolving situation. We have been since the beginning of 2020.

But there are some principles we can follow here.

Starting with assessing the case rates  or hospitalizations around the community.

So looking at cases per 100,000

you really want it to be at  least under 10 per 100000.

Ideally in single digits.

And not just for one day but you could look at something like the 7 or 14 day average for an area.

Luckily, you can find that  data on a variety of websites

including the CDC, NY Times, Johns Hopkins  or even by simply searching on Google.

These numbers will change  depending on the location.

And also over time.

There’s some evidence that Covid could  eventually be seasonal, like the flu.

Which means cases may drop  in the spring or summer.

Only to spike again in the fall and winter.

Next, it’s important to consider the environment.

Being outside is a really good start.

We're heading into spring and I think there will  be less tendency to be indoors in crowded spaces,  

poorly ventilated spaces, for example.

So that also helps with reduction of transmission.

But if you’re indoors you should  take a few things into consideration.

Ventilation and the number of people.

The size of the space and then the  time that you spend in that space

those are the main factors.

A packed, indoor concert, for example,

is going to be a higher risk  than going to a grocery store 

where the people are more spaced out.

And events or locations that  are checking vaccination status  

or requiring a negative test are even lower risk.

But even then you need to consider  one other factor...

yourself.

That includes assessing your own risk of severe  

disease and hospitalization  and possibly even death.

And that has to do, of course, with  your underlying medical conditions

whether or not you're immunosuppressed

whether or not you've been vaccinated and boosted.

Even if you yourself are low risk you should also  consider how dangerous an infection would be

for people closest to you.

We’ve learned a lot since  the beginning of the pandemic

and you’ve heard it a thousand times:

“We’re all in this together.”

Your actions and decisions will  continue to affect those around you.

If you are in one of those  lower risk categories and  

don't have to wear a mask in all those settings

understand that if the risk  rises again, you might need to.

We're not trying to stop every  runny nose in the country.

We're really trying to prevent  people from going to the hospital

and we're trying to prevent our  health care system from falling apart.

In the meantime,  

be mindful and show some compassion for other  people who may be masking up while you’re not.

Because your cloudy day

may be someone else’s hurricane.