When you’re out in public spaces, both indoor and outdoor, do you wear a mask? Does it depend on where you are or how far away you are from other people? Are there spaces where you feel more comfortable wearing, or not wearing, a mask?
Masks have, sadly, become a controversial topic, and we surely don’t want to open a can of worms here in the comments (be nice and respectful, otherwise your comment(s) will be deleted; remember that please) but we are curious, do you wear a mask? Please vote in the poll below and tell us there. Thanks, and stay safe (and healthy!).
Dear Readers: We have closed comments due to too many inflammatory postings.
Only if there is a sign on the door that says please wear a mask.
My DW works for the Fairfax (VA) county health department. She deals with this stuff on a daily basis. We wear our masks if we are going to be close to other people. Its not to protect US, but to protect THEM! We aren’t 100% sure if we are carriers or not. But if it was your parent or grandparent, wouldn’t you want to protect them?. I also have to wear one at work, but only if outside my office area. Two friends in my office caught the COVIDs, and I don’t want anyone else to. Its not going to go away, but its not something to ignore, either.
A 2 or 3 layer cloth masks helps both ways. The better the mask, the more it protects you.
Only if required to enter a store.
My wife and I wear a mask when ever in public around people. I usually wear gloves if I’m in a place that requires me to touch and handle things. It wasn’t that long ago that this newsletter was promoting a letter written by a first responder who was mocking the idea of wearing masks and gloves as useless in stopping the spread of the virus. Remember that? There’s so much fake news out there. Trust your instincts. Lots of people have died. Lots of people are sick. Were doing fine with our protocol. Just sayin.
Again, if masks are so effective, why don’t we ‘mask up’, wash our hands, and go back to work? WHAT are we waiting for? Total collapse of our economy?
I think you answered your own question Tommy .. WE is the keyword. It is precisely because not enough people are willing to take those common sense precautions that we are having difficulty opening up work and more importantly school.
The threat of our whole economy collapsing is the biggest hoax of all in all this. More people are working than unemployed. If you know anyone in EDI, they will tell you any business that has a strong, organized and reliable online presence, they are breaking records in profits. The restaurants chains that have closed are all ones that were either so far in debt already or their quality was already lacking. The same thing for big business, if they moved over to remote working with ease, their profits are healthy. The housing market is healthy. Though as usual some areas are booming while others are not. In-ground Pool companies are booked till the end of the year, and those are big ticket items and you need a job to get one. Small businesses depend on what the business is. Some are seeing record profits and others are not. As far as the entertainment business, sports, airlines and hospitality businesses they all needed a good swift kick in their pants anyway.
We have a very nice “mom and pop” family owned and operated restaurant that had to close up because of the size of his seating area he couldn’t comply to his distancing/percent of occupants. Once this is all over they hope to reopen and there are sure a lot of “regulars” that are hoping and waiting as well. So don’t tell them that this “hoax” isn’t real.
The ‘rules’ are real. The rest is up for debate.
To me, the biggest hoax is the entire plandemic. All I’m going to say is, it’s all political.The death numbers are inaccurate, and even the CDC says only 6% of the supposedly reported deaths are from the actual Chinese Flu. All the rest were deaths caused by all manner of underlying conditions. This is actually shown ON the CDC website. It’s just convenient to the agenda to blame the Chinese Flu and continue to scare the bejesus out of us. Some folks will NEVER quit wearing masks when this is all over.
Tommy, what about what Dr. Anthony Fauci said on GMA on Sept. 1, 2020: “The point that the CDC was trying to make was that a certain percentage of them had nothing else, just COVID. That does not mean that someone who has hypertension, diabetes who dies of COVID didn’t die of COVID-19, but they did,” he said. “So the numbers you’ve been hearing, the 180,000+ are real deaths from COVID-19. Let there not be any confusion about that, it’s not 9,000 deaths from COVID-19, it’s 180,000+ deaths.” —Diane at RVtravel.com
I think you mean Covid-19 or coronavirus. The CDC did not name it the Chinese Flu. I believe you call it that for political reasons.
No, a flu is not always named for where it originated. “Scientists still do not know for sure where the Spanish Flu originated, though theories point to France, China, Britain, or the United States, where the first known case was reported at Camp Funston in Fort Riley, Kansas, on March 11, 1918″. History. It is highly unlikely the 1918 flu originated in Spain. Not once has the CDC referred to the present pandemic virusas anything but Covid-19 or coronavirus.
In SE Louisiana, we are still in a Phase 2 condition, so I always wear my mask when in public areas. I’ll admit with the heat and humidity down here, I’ll pull it off as soon as I get outside the store, primarily so I can breathe and let my face dry off. Oh Boy! that car AC feels so good!
I don’t like this type of poll. What happened to the old format? For days I thought that it was missing?
William, is the poll not showing for you? Open the link separately and wait about ten minutes. It will eventually load.
William, can you tell me what happened to the poll that didn’t work for you?
I alwas wear one in public, and that means over the nose as well as over the mouth
It angers me to see people not covering up completely or sometimes their mask is just hanging around their neck in a store! To me it says they just don’t care.
Michigan has a mask mandate. Masks are worn whenever social distancing is close. Our farmer’s markets require masks. Masks have slowed down the spread in a state that was in the top 3 of deaths early on.
Depends upon what you mean by “In Public”.
No I do not wear a mask when out in public walking down the street, in a parking lot, or any other public area where I am not in close proximity to people. I think it’s all BS! I do wear a mask when entering a business IF that is the new rules for shopping or entering that business. I have a choice. I can respect the rules of the business owner OR I can take my business elsewhere. The choice is mine!
To me the “Social Distancing” idea is laughable as before all the Covid BS it was already NOT NORMAL to have people within 4-6 feet of you anyway. That’s just our culture. We all want our personal space!
The ONLY time you are/were shoulder to shoulder in a public place is when YOU choose to do so. Go to church, a movie theater, a bar, a ballgame, a concert or other public events are the only times when you are close to other people and my friends was your choice to do so a decision YOU made.
Little has changed in my life!
Here, here!
You must also believe the earth is flat. Hope you have health insurance (probably Medicare courtesy of your government) to pay for your eventual hospitalization.
Please show more respect.
I see nothing wrong with this guys comment. Bull gets to rant and spread misinformation without getting called out? Don’t think so.
Chip, that wasn’t called for.
Bull is stating his opinion and how he is reacting to the virus vis a vis wearing a mask. You are free to point out the (many) problems with his statements but calling him a “flat earther” is insulting and inflamatory. We don’t tolerate this.
You have been warned.
EXACTLY RIGHT!
Bull, the question was “Do you wear a mask in public”…. did not say “at a public place”. In public, implies around multiple other people.
Any food shopping it is mandatory to wear a mask in Miami, Fl. Even if it was not mandatory I would definitely protect myself and wear it anyway. If I am to meet friends at an outdoor restaurant I would not feel comfortable even being there and would probably decline the invite.
Social distancing is not a laughing matter as Mr or Mrs Bull states below. It is something mandatory to monitor when engaging with people. Actually, it should be 10 feet, but trying to get people to do that would be impossible. We have enough people who still don’t understand the SCIENCE of reasoning. Six feet is the bare minimum. People usually get closer than that engaging in conversation.
For those who disagree to be safe with this virus I would like for them to meet some of those I used to work with who died. I am an RN with a science background and realize the need to be careful. This virus is a smart one that scans weakness in a system to permeate a human system and according the SCIENCE.
I only wear a mask when required to enter a store. I try to avoid going to those stores that require the use of a mask.
Hey Abe,
I hate wearing a mask too. But I wear one whenever I am out or have friends over.
I’m not trying to protect myself, I’m protecting my friends and neighbors.
I’m wearing a mask so that the firefighter in the line next to me at Costco doesn’t get sick and miss a shift.
I’m wearing a mask so that the teacher behind me doesn’t become ill and have to figure out a way to bring a substitute up to speed.
I’m wearing a mask so that my elderly neighbor doesn’t catch this thing and die.
Am I COVID 19 positive? I don’t think so but up to 30% of all people infected may not show ANY signs whatsoever and be spreading the virus the whole while they are infected. Good for them to not get sick! Super bad for everyone else who’s been around them.
This is called being a good citizen, plain and simple. I respect that you don’t want to wear a mask, but please put whatever reasons you have against masks aside and join you fellow uncomfortable contentious citizens.
I would like to see ALL establishments post the NEW sign at their door: NO SHIRT, NO SHOES, NO MASK, NO SERVICE as one I have seen. The owner of a business here in Pennsylvania has the right to refuse service to anyone he so desires!
You would have to avoid all stores & businesses in Montana where we have a mask order put in place by our Governor who cares about the people. If you resist wearing a mask for my health and the health of others… don’t come here.
I have to say one thing….wear a mask whenever and wherever possible. You shouldn’t have to be told, you should use the common sense God gave you. You would know what I’m talking about if you’ve had someone in your life that contracted COVID. Life can be as normal as possible by just masking up. It does help stop the spread.
Who wears goggles? Viruses can enter through eye ducts?
So many people still don’t realize, you are not wearing a mask to protect yourself, you are wearing a mask to protect others from you. And visa-versa.
Any 2 or 3 layer cloth mask does both to some extent. The better the mask, the more it protects you.
But doesn’t a mask work both ways? By protecting me from an unmasked person and vise-versa?
Hey Monty, well, sure a little. But even when a surgeon wears a mask it is to protect the patient, not themselves. PPE (personal protective equipment) is designed to protect the wearer from exposure to viruses and other contagions. These are super uncomfortable and have multiple layers and are only worn by health care providers and first responders.
The whole masking up thing is you helping others, it’s about being socially responsible and trying to minimize the risk that you are infectious and may not realize it. Mask + distance = increased safety and decreased risk of infection.
You could be COVID19 positive, shedding virus as you wander about Walmart and not know it. As a matter of fact, you may not ever know you had the virus at all if you were one of the lucky ones. So we need to secure our faces and get this under control.
This is the brainwashing technique that gets to everyone. If it was just to protect yourself you could easily say “ I choose not to” but by adding the layer of attempted guilt and encouraging others to attempt to guilt you… that is a new level of manipulation. “It’s to protect others “. Wonder why they haven’t tried that before with all the other communicable diseases? Nope. Not buying it.
Well Sally, I guess you’ve said your piece. I have to say that I cannot agree with you, and I also find your level of disregard for the science that shows masks work disheartening.
Calling this brainwashing is pretty harsh, when we have science that shows that masks are effective at stopping social transmission of the disease as well as statistics that also show their efficacy. Is your opinion based in science or a personal/political belief system?
Maybe you’re one of the folks who know too much? (ie security experts regard the TSA security check points as security theater) We know masks aren’t perfect, but if you can find problems with the actual science or methodology of the research, I’d be really interested to know what you find, especially as a microbiologist. Seriously, if you can point out the fallacy of wearing masks and find fault with the current research and/or their conclusions we should know.
If science was right all the time the earth would have been gone by now
In some countries people wear a mask anytime they are feeling ill and have for years.
So why would I have to wear a mask if I’m not sick
I wear “safety eyeglasses side shields” over the sides of a backup pair of glasses when in stores.
https://amazon.com/Glasses-Shields-Flexible-Eyeglasses-Medium/dp/B085Q4Q3DK/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1
It doesn’t fully cover like a pair of goggles but at a minimum it prevents me from touching my eyes!
Let me just say “You’re either part of the problem or part of the solution.”
Do you believe in living or dying? I believe in living and living my life to the fullest. Life is short enough, so being cooped up and afraid is no way to live!
If you were in the service in the early 60’s, you were given a malaria shot (hydrocycloriquin).
I have seen no studies on if veterans have gotten this virus and or died from it. Should be interesting to find out! Food for thought!
It was reported by CDC and FDA that it provides NO protection from Covid-19. The person who stated it During a news conference stills believe it.
Our governor in Florida stated two days ago that if there were another outbreak, he would not shut down the state again.a few observations. First, sunshine and hydrocycloriquin do not kill or prevent C-19.
Second, Florida did not shut down anything except large gathering venues and anywhere you had more than 50 people. Desantis left it up to local governments to make the correct call to prevent the spread. Beaches were open and crowded and contributed to the spread. When they closed on the east coast, the beach goers came to the west coast where political allies of the governor were in control and beaches were open.
It has been proven that the wearing of masks does prevent and slow down the spread. Look at the numbers!
Be smart, be courteous and help prevent the spread. Wear a mask, wash your hands and keep your social distancing!
The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) stated. “Peer-reviewed studies published from January through April 20, 2020, provide clear and convincing evidence that HCQ may be beneficial in COVID-19, especially when used early, states AAPS. Unfortunately, although it is perfectly legal to prescribe drugs for new indications not on the label, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has said that CQ and HCQ should be used for COVID-19 only in hospitalized patients in the setting of a clinical study if available. Most states are making it difficult for physicians to prescribe or pharmacists to dispense these medications.”
There have been cases where a person who is a long term user of hydrocycloriquin for lupus has came down with COVID19.
Probably many of those who were in service in the early 60’s are dead already, old age etc!
Bob, Sorry to say but that isn’t true. I served from 1956 to 1980 and know a lot of vets that served at the same time, and yes some have passed away, but a lot have not. We are old, but still kicking.
We wear a mask if we are entering any store, regardless of rules, or will be encountering anyone within 6 feet of us outside. This is a practical step to protect ourselves and others from a bug that will definitely kill. We have curtailed our long distance RV travels for now but C19 hasn’t really stopped us from doing anything else we want to do. We do avoid crowds because people don’t mask up when they should. Masking up isn’t a sacrifice, it doesn’t keep you from doing what you want to do, but it does help protect us from an invisible enemy. Americans have sacrificed much more than this to protect our country, putting on a mask to protect our loved ones is the least we can do.
As long as people are still getting sick, and people are still dying, I’m wearing a mask.
I think the key words here are “in public”….which to me implies while around multiple people. I’m really surprise at the low percentage of people who wear a mask while inside and outside indicating that most do not wear one outside while in public. I can understand not wearing one while outside when there are no other people around, but while in public? Really?
Unfortunately the first option of indoors and outdoors could be misleading and produce an alternative option of outdoors only. Many people may have read the first option stating indoors as inside their home or residence. The question may or should have been to read in public indoors and outdoors. I am sure most people wear their mask when indoor public places such as food shopping or any type of indoor shopping or building. The important thing is to wear your mask in any type of public gathering indoors or outdoors. Stay safe, Stay well.
I was raised in Tonawanda!
The Chinese Virus is .001 Microns in size. IF someone wears a mask properly, which most do not, one would be lucky to stop anything down to 10 microns in size. In other words, the virus is teeny tiny and masks really don’t do much of anything to stop it. Ever wonder why people in body suits and oxygen masks were wearing what they did when playing around with it? This is why they did.
However, the mask will stop the water droplets that the virus is in. That is why masks are effective.
If you think a swath of cloth over your face will stop the virus, droplets or not, they have you fooled.
It’s Covid-19 or coronavirus. The CDC did not name it Chinese Virus. I believe you call it that for political reasons.
So disappointing to see folks simply can’t get past the hype.
I am a retired medical microbiologist. The masks are basically worthless. We wear them only if we REALLY want a product inside a store that requires them.
Sally, to protect you for sure. But the science, which I assume you are a fan of, shows up to 95% reduction in transmission from simple 2 layer cloth masks or standard surgical masks. That, of course assumes you are social distancing as well. If you’re right next to someone and cough or shout or breathe heavily, the efficacy of the mask will drop accordingly.
Sally: You are absolutely correct. The masks are simply a way to make people feel like they have some sort of protection against a virus that is so small, masks do nothing.
Sorry Kim: More and more research along with empirical evidence is showing that masks, especially since so many are worn incorrectly, are worthless and no more than a placebo to make the masses “feel” like they have a way to block the virus from entering their system.
Masks or no masks we will all get the virus someday…that is just what viruses do.
Wow – where di you get that stat. Only the current politically motivated hype says that.
Amazing Sally – you ARE an expert and folks just can’t accept facts. 6 at least give you a negative and I’ll bet they have never even been in the field.
But hey – some folks WANT to believe.
It’s easy to me – they should stay home. Wear their masks. Wash your hands all day. Let someone deliver your stuff like groceries.
And the last thing any of them should do is take an RV trip!!
I wear to no hassle the employees who have to abide by the Governor’s stupid excessive orders.
medical expert since the stay at home.
indoor when shopping because the store requires it and to keep more “sensitive” folks from freaking out.
A mask is worn to protect others from us. There is a slight secondary benefit of self-protection from others. Not wearing one inside a public space says we have no regard for others. Outside I only wear one if distancing isn’t possible.
Wrong wearing a mask protects you from others.
No. It protects others by reducing/cancelling the spray of particulates. This is why valved masks aren’t used because they don’t reduce the expiration rate.
Hey Bob P,
Yes and no.
Proper PPE gear is designed to protect the wearer, and really is only needed for healthcare workers & first responders. They are uncomfortable and have many layers that you have to shed constantly. But it’s the price the people helping others have to pay to stay healthy and keep helping others.
The simple paper & cloth face coverings are not to protect you (marginal protection at best) but they do reduce/eliminate your breath droplets from being dispersed as you breathe and talk. So if you wear one, and I wear one and we stay a safe distance apart (no close hugs or shouting in each other’s faces) then the transmission of the virus is reduced by 95%. That’s pretty good.
Now, if we’d all just put on our big boy pants (remember pants?) and wear a mask when in public or around others then we’d contain this thing MUCH faster than we are. Not opinion, fact. (research mentioned elsewhere and easily found at cdc.gov)
Yes the mask protects other from you – the wearer unless you are wearing a surgical mask — in fact think of all the years Surgeons have been wearing masks to protect the patients.
We wear masks any time we are out in the public, even thou not a state wide requirement only recommended and required in most cities. If you have kept track of what’s happened with the covid count in Arizona, you would know how much wearing a mask has stopped the spread. It’s a no brainer, just be respectful and wear a mask properly. This is not political, it is common sense.
If you look at the numbers in Sweden they are no worse than anyone else and they didn’t do anything
Has anyone thought about who the person was that watched a covid19 germ floating through the air for a distance of 5 feet 11 inches and then fall harmlessly to the floor and die? I mean we’ve been keeping a social distance of 6 feet so apparently someone had to determine this safety procedure, or is this like so many other things we are told where some “expert” determines what’s best for us. I’m sorry but I don’t buy half of what we are told by an expert in the field.
There are many studies done by real experts on this subject. Most droplets will fall to ground within 6 feet from gravity, some will travel up to 9 feet. Do a search online and you can see who the test were conducted by.
What percentage of what you are told by politicians do you `buy’?
Zero point zero.
Last “expert” I read said 12 feet.
I am with you.
Dr. Anthony Fauci on GMA Sept. 1, 2020: “The point that the CDC was trying to make was that a certain percentage of them had nothing else, just COVID. That does not mean that someone who has hypertension, diabetes who dies of COVID didn’t die of COVID-19, but they did,” he said.
“So the numbers you’ve been hearing, the 180,000+ are real deaths from COVID-19. Let there not be any confusion about that, it’s not 9,000 deaths from COVID-19, it’s 180,000+ deaths.” —Diane at RVtravel.com
Yesterday, I spoke with out 9 year old granddaughter from New Hope, PA to find out how she liked going back to school (virtually). She said she enjoyed seeing her friends again and then she asked us a question. My wife was an RN, and Pops knows everything . She wants things to go back to the way they were before C19, and doesn’t know why people just don’t wear a mask since SHE knows that wearing one works. I told her I didn’t have an answer and asked her how she knew that the mask prevents C19. She said she wasn’t a scientist but that states that shut down as soon as they saw more people with C19 and kept them shut down for a “month” (her time line), required masks, they lowered the numbers quicker, while in our state Florida, numbers became one of the highest in the country.
Guess it takes the wisdom of a child to make adult reasoning look stupid.
As she said, why not just wear a mask and stay healthy so we can hurry up and visit her.
Smart kid, huh?
Big hug for your wise-beyond-her-years granddaughter, Mike. 🙂 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Your Granddaughter is a very smart kid~ wish she could do a public service commercial on all the TV stations!
Yup – and Florida has not suffered like NY or CA and now our restaurants are 100% open and fewer people have tested positive. Even fewer have died.
Reality is worth noting. If you are afraid – stay home. If you are afraid wear a mask and protect yourself. There are NO penalties in Florida for not wearing a mask – we are finally getting our lives back.
And again – for those that are uncomfortable – stay home, wear your mask and let the rest of us live.
It depends on where I am going. If there will be a lot of people around, I wear a mask. If not, I usually don’t. Indoors or outdoors makes no difference, it depends on how many people I expect.
I’ll wear my mask outside if I’m around other people and always indoors as in a store. In addition to my mask that I wear to protect others, I also wear a face shield to protect myself from others, as I have an autoimmune disorder.
I do not wear a mask when on my property. I like the people at the hardware store so I wear a mask. After starting to read the comments below I put on my mask before I read on.
I worked with local government for over 30 years. I worked with blood borne pathogens and water and airborne diseases here are some simple facts.
Because it’s not about facts, it’s about politics and control.
Simple mathematics tell us the more we test the more positive cases will show up, not necessarily in relation to hospitalization, which is the main factor number. But they don’t tell you that. Also the Wuhan virus molecule measures 60 to 120Nm its called a complex molecule. A N95 mask will allow approximately 20% of the Wuhan virus through. And that’s only if you pass a proper fit test. Paper surgical mask or cloth mask will allow approximately 90 to 100% of the Wuhan virus through. Again just looking at facts.
And if masks worked, why haven’t we opened up the country and mandate masks? If social distance works, why do we have to wear masks? The answer is because it’s not about the Wuhan virus, it’s about politics.
I think you mean Covid-19 or coronavirus. The CDC did not name it Wuhan. I believe you call it that for political reasons.
I call it the CCP virus! And yes that’s for political reasons
I wear a mask when i go into public places. I carry, but don’t normally wear one outside if there’s no one in the area. I’ll put it on though if anyone approaches. I also understand that cloth masks don’t offer me much protection from others except that if a viral droplet hits it and gets trapped before getting to me, then it has been at least a little bit effective. I also wear glasses which IMO offers a little protection as well.
Living in Michigan makes you go no to masks. I wear one going into a building then I take it off. I see no need for one. But because work makes you wear one and I need the money I wear it then I go home. So you play the game until the politicians after the election say otherwise. IMO not yours
A very selfish person. Sorry you feel that way about the 89 per cent of the people who do wear masks.