After the CDC revised guidelines on COVID and the fully vaccinated no longer have to wear masks inside public spaces, I…still wear the mask. And probably will for the foreseeable future. I’ve seen a couple of arguments for doing so. Which to no one’s shock in our current period of cultural upheaval have absolutely nada to do with whether it is safe to forego the mask, but they are somewhat revealing.
The first goes something like this: I still wear the mask because no one will have any idea who is vaccinated and who isn’t, and I don’t want to make people worry about being near me. Besides, I don’t want anyone to mistake me for one of those Q loons.
Oddly enough the second argument takes the opposite tack but comes to the same conclusion: Well, I wasn’t wearing one, because FREEDOM, but now I’ll start because I wouldn’t want anyone to think I’m one of those vaccinated and Gates-chipped sheeple.
Whatever works. I personally plan to keep wearing my mask for reasons more in line with the first than the second, but there’s a good bit more to it. In the 2019-2020 flu season approximately 38 Million (that’s million with an M) caught seasonal flu and about 57000 people died. In the 2020-2021 flu season? Just over 2000 confirmed cases total and maybe 200 deaths. Not to mention, congruent with the flu season, I normally come down with a really nasty sinus infection lasting weeks. Every. Damn. Year.
Except this one.
Cause and effect or mere correlation? Personally I don’t give a rats’ tuchus. Masks work. Some Asian countries already knew this, especially in dense population areas like Tokyo where “social distancing” is not so much frowned on as nearly impossible. Masks are common in public, COVID or no COVID. I think we need to take a lesson.
Besides, this way I don’t have to shave as often. It’s a win-win.
Richard Parks 
I’m 65 and fully vaccinated, but have a couple of chronic medical conditions that put me into the high risk category. It was great avoiding both flu and colds this past winter. I also found wearing a mask outdoors helped lessen the severity of allergen exposure. I’m going to keep wearing a mask for those reasons and for those folks who have medical conditions that don’t allow them get a vaccine yet.
Absolutely.
Good points.
Out here in Utah, not wearing a mask became the norm over night. I agree with your reasons, I also have small kids that are not vaccinated. I know the transmission and effects are lower for them, but they can still catch and spread. Sick kids are no picnic, and we still have elderly family that are too scared to get vaccinated.