Masks, distancing 'could last years'

[Sister 9,907]

I am not surprised and actually would not mind, especially about wearing masks out in public and just keeping a polite distance while out, but I can understand young people feeling jilted of living their lives to the fullest and free. We shall see what this all has done to us in a few years and see how we will handle it all moving further into the future.

[Judas Society 3,596]

I'm fine with this but please create a way for people to travel to other countries to meet their loved ones. Related or not. Some couples are separated between countries with no way to meet each other. Families separated between countries for a long time. Figure out a better way to control spread with overseas travel.

[TimisaMonster 31,073]

I highly doubt that as people are getting vaccinated and everything is opening up so...

[GagaSine 7,464]

Good, no one needs to see my ugly face 

[codymonster 8,898]

I couldn’t care less about wearing a mask, but I need them to loosen the rules on the amount of people you’re allowed to be with indoors. I miss my friends and my immediate family so much.

[BlackFluid 357]

Sounds good to me.

[Lion Heart 15,041]

I still plan on wearing masks during flu season.

 

F8ck the flu tbh.

[Franch Toast 27,737]

I think this prediction is unnecessarily dire and unlikely. 

However, I hope that masks do become more common in the western world during cold & flu season and for air travel. East Asia learned this lesson during SARS, so even before Covid, it was common for people in those countries to wear masks if they were ill or for long-haul air travel. For myself, I probably will continue to wear masks on planes after this regardless of regulations because in a pre-Covid world, I almost always developed a respiratory infection after flying. The only time I didn't was when I flew in late February just before Covid became widespread in the US, and I wore a medical mask because I knew Covid was out there. I'll happily mask up while flying from now on, except when drinking and eating. And I think it is a courtesy to mask up if you have a respiratory infection and are going to be out in public (ideally, you'd just stay home, but that's not realistic for most of us). 

Also, as a woman, one benefit of wearing masks is that strange men no longer admonish me to smile. Plus, when I get my monthly PMS pimples around my nose and chin, I can conveniently hide them. 

I say this as someone with severely sensitive skin who has developed contact dermatitis from wearing masks and had to get a prescription for steroid cream from my doctor. Yup, I'd still rather wear a mask and get an itchy rash than get sick, even with a cold. It's been over a year since I've been ill, and I love it! I've learned to smear Aquaphor around my mouth area before wearing a mask, and it's helped prevent irritation. Also, I've found suppliers in Hong Kong who make super cute and fun disposable masks that I can match to my clothes (I don't like cloth masks as much because they don't offer enough protection, though I do have some that I can use with filters, so maybe once I am vaccinated, I'll use them more as they don't irritate my skin as much, plus they're super cute and fun). 

I can't wait to be vaccinated so that I can work out in public again at my dance aerobics class, because doing it at home just isn't the same. I don't get the same endorphins, nor do I work as hard. I better ***** it up at the pharmacies tomorrow in an attempt to get jabbed. 

 

[Damon 10,930]

i actually don't mind it at all lol it's like part of my outfit at this point, i feel weird if i don't have one on outside

[Micmaky 917]

Depends on the country. Here in Australia we literally were making out with everyone and had a giant public orgy on Mardi Gras 

[MACATL 2,128]

8 hours ago, Economy said:

I wouldnt throw fireworks just yet. With multiple variants popping up, varying levels of protection from vaccines against each abd the fact that vaccines only prevent severe illness but doesnt mean u cant catch or spread covid...

 

It may be premature to say its almost over

If vaccines “prevent severe illness,” who cares if u get it?  I mean, at least not enough to shut down life as we know it indefinitely. I understand we may not yet fully understand the long term effects of having had Covid-19, but I do not believe that it outweighs the human need for social interaction.   Once our country is majority vaccinated, it’s  time to get on with living.  

[Luc 4,776]

10 hours ago, Morphine Prince said:

In the US basically everything is open but being safe you can live somewhat normally (but responsibly). 

I think you guys will go back to normal once they start mass vaccination. 

Honestly, it doesn’t make sense to completely close everything. They could have 50% capacity and be safe. 

It's because of the British variant (30-40% more transmissible, >90% of infections are of this variant) and lower percentage immune from infection in the past year (about 15%, compared with maybe 35% in the US) that we need more measures than the US... the Netherlands has restaurants, cultural events, non-essential stores closed for months, a curfew from 9pm, visitor limit of 1 per day and infections are still rising, only because of primary schools and high schools. I have hope that restaurants, cinemas, libraries and museums can be reopened end of April. Right now we're only vaccinating about 1% of the population per week because of low supplies, so current restrictions will stay in place and possibly even be made stricter till at least the end of April.

[Stupid Oreo 14,669]

This year is the last year I will have ven try to listen. 2022 will be a free year for me

[Karen Smith 10,026]

11 hours ago, PartySick said:

Same. It's been so nice  and masks are a god send for introverts.

Omg yes

[Lighter 15,378]

i’m not doing that sweetiee