I just did a state by state check of Covid-19 status. Are masks still required? Is distancing required? Are large gatherings limited? The answer to all these questions is NO. Masks are no longer required at all, for anyone, in most of the 50 states. There are a few states like California, New York, Hawaii and Washington that still require masks in senior living facilities, hospitals, or convalescent homes. Masks for school age children, of all ages, ended everywhere by the end of March. Employers will almost universally not require or be allowed to require proof of vaccination. So what does all this mean?
First, it means cases of new Covid-19 infection have gone down dramatically and it means less people are dying from Covid-19. Less people are dying because we now have drugs that, if administered early, will make symptoms of Covid-19 less severe. This is all great, but don't be fooled. People are still getting Covid-19. It is highly contagious.
My son Phil and his family recently went to Disneyland and Los Angeles on what was supposed to be a big, wonderful trip. They would go to Disneyland, visit great grandma in LA, grandma in San Diego (me), brother Brian and family in Woodland Hills, and lots of old high school friends. Well, it didn't happen that way. Lennon, age 12 tested positive for Covid-19 on the end of their first day at Disneyland. That was the end of most everything. They went to their Air B and B in Venice, and spent the next week there. Lennon could not come near anyone for 5 days, then he could go out with a mask. They made the best of it, taking walks on the beach, playing in the surf, and bike riding, but it wasn't what they had planned.
Lennon's middle school in Boulder, Colorado, had lifted their mask mandate 3 weeks before spring break. He got Covid, as did half of his class!!! A 15 minute encounter at close distance can get you sick. Lennon's family was at Disneyland, sharing a suite at the hotel, with Deborah's (my daughter in law) sister and family. It just took that one day for Lesley, Deborah's sister, to come down with Covid-19 too.
Don't get drawn into thinking you can't get Covid-19 anymore. When you're in a situation that makes you uncomfortable, put on the mask. Let's all stay safe. It looks like Covid-19 is in the back view mirror, but it could lurk it's dirty little head at anytime.
No comments:
Post a Comment