About masks--is this OK now?

[agate]

Recently I've seen several neighbors in the halls in this building just covering the lower part of their faces with their hands as they went along, encountering others on their way, using the elevator, etc.

I've understood that a hand over the mouth isn't adequate masking. Has this changed?

I'm a bit annoyed because I keep going to the trouble of tying my mask on, adjusting the nose and chin, making sure it's a snug fit, not handling it except by the ties, and so on, every time I go out the door of my apartment, and if I can do that, I don't understand why others can't as well.

Or do they really not need to?

[Virginia]

The correct way is to wear a mask, from everything I have heard. I am surprised they are allowing that in your building.

[agate]

They aren't allowing it according to the rules. Some neighbors will scold those who aren't wearing masks. I'm finding it hard to speak up myself.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Agate ~

This is absolutely not okay! A hand over one's mouth does nothing except put the germs from that person's mouth onto that person's hand, so when that person touches something, germs are left behind.

We aren't near "herd immunity" yet, so masks should still be worn in public places. Your hallways and elevator are essentially public places, as you live in a residential building.

So far, I haven't heard an expert declare that the vaccine prevents a person from getting COVID. The common answer to that question is that the vaccine protects a person from getting a severe case or ending up in the hospital.

We also don't know the efficacy of the vaccine in each person, unless testing for antibodies is done after vaccination. Saying that a vaccine is 90% effective is misleading, in my opinion. I doubt that everyone gets a 90% protection from the vaccine. I would guess that everyone is different depending upon their health status and any underlying condition.

I plan to wear a mask and gloves, when I'm in public and probably at home, if I have a visitor. It's true that I am a germaphobe, with good reason. I had to be a germaphobe to protect myself, my boys, and Jim. That hasn't changed for me. I still have to protect myself.

Even when COVID comes under control, I will continue to wear a mask and gloves, because another virus could be lurking. We didn't see COVID coming, so, we won't see the next virus coming either. Also, flu is still around and always will be.

Agate, I understand your hesitancy to speak up. But for your safety and the safety of other residents, I think you should say something. Scolding isn't going to help. But perhaps saying something like, "I wear this mask to protect you as well as myself. Please wear a mask for both of us. Thank You," would have some impact.

Also, someone (I'm not saying it is you) should notify management that some residents are not wearing masks. Management can then send out a notice to all residents that masks are required on site, outside of your apartment. Even list the areas: the hallways, the elevator, the laundry room, the lobby.

COVID is deadly and can leave insidious health issues once it has completed its course. It's not like a cold, or even the flu, which if you survive the flu, generally, you're fine in a couple of weeks. I don't understand people, who don't take it seriously. Look what is happening in India! This is a really bad virus, with variants, probably variants yet to be sprouted.

To anyone, who is against wearing a mask, because it robs them of their "freedom," I would say this, "What about my freedom to live? To not die on a ventilator from a despicable virus? We're guaranteed the right to 'Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.' Notice that 'Life' is the first right. It isn't just about your freedom. It's about all of us having freedom. Here's your mask."

Keep wearing your mask, agate, as this is your insurance to fend off any droplets in your vicinity. If you can, try to steer clear of any unmasked residents. I know that will restrict your access in some ways. You need to be safe, and as we all know from this pandemic, that means changing the way we do things.

I'm sending you positive, healing, strengthening energy and prayers that you will remain safe in your community.

Love & Light,



Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

In case I might be perceived as a doomsayer regarding another pandemic, Vice President Kamala Harris virtually spoke to the United Nations today to address that potential:

“At the same time that the world works to get through this pandemic, we also know that we must prepare for the next,” Harris will say, according to excerpts of the speech obtained by The Associated Press. The speech will be co-hosted by U.N. permanent representatives of Argentina, Japan, Norway and South Africa.

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

During a discussion on vaccination and wearing masks on The View today, Joy Behar stated that she plans to continue wearing a mask, when she's in public. She remarked that she hasn't had a cold or the flu since she started wearing a mask for COVID.

Because COVID is "novel," there are things scientists and physicians don't know yet regarding vaccine reactions, long term effects of COVID and vaccines, when a COVID booster vaccine is needed (6 months? every year?), how the vaccine affects people with various diseases or conditions, etc. For example, the 6-7 women, who developed blood clots after their J & J vaccine. One in a million ratio for those given the J & J vaccine, but it had to be halted for a week for studying.

For these reasons, I think it is wise to wear a mask in public, at least until we're positive that COVID is under control, or preferably, as Dr. Fauci stated, "eliminated." Eliminated is not the same as eradicated in Dr. Fauci's scale. Additionally, we need more time for data bases to be developed to guide scientists and physicians in prevention and treatment.

My future includes masks as long as I'm on Earth. We're living through the first pandemic in 100 years. Our planet is dying from humankind's abuse, greed, and neglect. This is our new normal. It's never going to be the way it was before COVID. That is the harsh reality we must face. I grieve for the wonderful young people I know, and their children, who have to face whatever awaits.

We can only hope and pray that the World comes together to battle climate change to revive our environment, which will make everyone healthier.

Be safe everyone. Wear a mask.

Love & Light,

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[agate]

Doomsay away, Rose. Quite a few saw this kind of thing coming a long time ago--that the world would be overloaded with people and that easier transportation worldwide was going to create a whole boatload of new problems. We in the more prosperous countries of the world have been hop-skip-and-jumping around all over the globe, using jet planes as if they were just the local city bus, and we've been carrying germs far and wide.

In a way we've done this to ourselves, and now we're going to have to get used to wearing masks.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

agate ~

Thank you.

Of course, today the CDC announced that vaccinated people can go maskless outdoors! Why?!!! How do we know who has been vaccinated among those who are maskless, given that there are millions of people, who refuse to wear a mask or be vaccinated?!

This is just ... frustrating!!!

Dr. Fauci held a press conference updating on the efficacy of the vaccines against the assorted identified variants of COVID. He referred to 50-67% efficacy as "a high level."

I'm not a scientist, doctor, statistician, or mathematic genius. But if only half of the people vaccinated have reduced symptoms, that means the other half have severe symptoms.

As the number of people receiving vaccinations worldwide increases, will the data presented by Dr. Fauci today change significantly either for better or for worse?

You are spot on about travel as a germ spreader, agate. Although in my younger years, I flew several times, I have long regarded airplanes as "germ carriers." I will not board an airplane again. That's another reason why I've never longed to go on a cruise.

Yes, we have done this to ourselves. We are experiencing the consequences of our over-civilization. Wars/bombing/nuclear weapons, nuclear power plants, oil drilling/fracking, certain farming practices, industrial pollution of air, water and earth, plastic, asbestos, carbon dioxide emissions, etc.

Earth Day passed this year without any fanfare.

We have so many problems and issues in the World, we're unable to process or pay attention to all of them.

Regardless of the CDC's optimistic declaration about masks, I'm still going to wear a mask whenever I'm in the presence of others. Better safe than sorry, as the adage goes.

Love & Light,

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[agate]

Letting people go around outdoors without masks is apparently leading to a careless attitude about the times when masks are required.

The people in my building who were seen just hastily covering their faces with their hands that I mentioned were people who had just come in from outside. They were probably outside with no masks, figuring they didn't need them out there, then entered the building where masks are still required, and they had an "Oops!" moment when they quickly tried to adjust to that situation without bothering about the actual mask,which they probably didn't have handy any more because they were assuming they didn't need it while outside.

It's hard to alternate back and forth between masks indoors and no masks outdoors. We'd be far more likely to have mask use indoors if people were expected to wear the mask outdoors as well. Just my opinion though.

I've heard that the data will improve as more and more people get vaccinated--UNLESS too many people get careless about mask-wearing and social distancing, and what with warmer weather beckoning people to do more recreational things like go to ball games, and with people being tired of COVID after its novelty has worn off, they're apt to throw caution to the winds.