MDlaxfan76 wrote: ↑Wed Feb 23, 2022 10:39 am
Given no authority beyond guidance, I'd be saying that we have lots of available top ranked masks, we're making them available free where needed, and when case incidence is high in any particular areas, or traveling to and from such areas, such masks are recommended in indoor situations, even more so in densely crowded situations, so mask mandates for those situations are supported as good health policy.
I'd likely be more specific to level of incidence, cases and positivity rates, and their trajectory, and I might include hospitalization rates and those trajectories in such guidance metrics.
I'd recommend being quick to reinstate guidance and mandates when appropriate, slow to remove them, but always based on data trajectories.
Better if this is all transparent so that folks can predict what will be happening, and why, ahead of time. I'd be producing clear videos on mask wearing, rationale, differences, proper usage, etc.
To be clear, at this point, I'd be recommending not recognizing cloth masks, gators, etc when mandates are in place. If someone wants to wear such when not mandated, no sweat, but they help relatively little compared to the high rated masks that are now so ubiquitously available. But they're less comfortable, so it's understandable why someone would prefer cloth when not required otherwise.
Ideally we'd not need to 'mandate', the guidance would be such that all or nearly all people would willingly mask properly in response to data metrics. Unfortunately, that's not the case. People prefer clarity to be masked and businesses depend on their clientele and employees being confident that the best efforts are being made/required if necessary.
I have a lot of friends who are adamant about still not going to an indoor restaurant in Florida because of the lack of masking. Too many people assumed to be making no effort to avoid spread. Had this happen twice over the past two weeks, even though I'd proposed the venues because they had outdoor seating midway from where we stay each. Folks remain anxious, if not so much for themselves personally, for their elderly or otherwise more vulnerable family members. I get that, given the concerns we had in our family.
We have a lot of Dartmouth alums at our residential golf and yacht club in Florida as it was founded by a Dartmouth guy and a lot of the first residents were Big Green alums. We'd had an event scheduled for late January, would have drawn 50+ people, but the folks planning it cancelled until next year, having cancelled last year as well...I've suggested re-thinking this for March, but so far these older folks remain anxious even though our club has now lifted it's own mask requirements. We've had quite a few cases of Omicron on campus, but basically everyone has triple jabbed, and there've been no serious cases...and no new cases for some weeks now.
I think we're on the other side of this wave...but, as a public official, I'd be signaling that if there's another wave detected, requirements will very likely be brought back...meanwhile some relief.
Personally, I wear an N95 or surgical mask, whenever in potentially crowded situations indoors, basic retail etc. Not that I have any serious concern for myself, but I know that it's reassuring to those who remain concerned. Haven't worn cloth since surgical or better became widely available. Took awhile for that.
