The Coronavirus Panic Thread

[KuariKaydrith]

I understand that not everybody likes or agrees with having to wear masks, but for the safety of people around me I'll stick to wearing mine. People can call me a sheep or whatever, but since I started wearing a mask last year I haven't caught the nasty cold I usually get every year, or gotten really sick, and my asthma has not been aggravated by allergies. I haven't had to pay a fortune for cough and cold meds, or allergy meds.

Where I live, mask wearing has been proven to work, and ditto for being completely shut down. I've been watching as other places across Canada don't have as stringent a lockdown or mask protocol and their numbers are still stupidly high.

At the moment, my province has only 93 active cases, which can not be said about the other provinces. Sure, it helps that I live on an island, but we've stayed really strict on isolation and quarantine rules. Many of our cases have been from rotational workers coming from away, either to work here in the province or returning from having worked in another province. Heck, we've even pulled out of the Atlantic Bubble in order to keep the infection rate from spiking again.

[Kristev]

I agree as well. This is premature and could well backfire.

[EricKei]

I mean, I'm hoping that we won't have a surge that fills up most of the ERs in the country, but that does seem to be the most likely outcome.

I must agree. Here in the Deep South (y'all), mask-wearing compliance was never more than 60% at the best of times, and enforcement was nonexistent anyway. We might as well have never had a requirement; it was treated like more of a gentle suggestion by FAR too many people. As for the ER's; well, yeah - I have been hearing from doctor friends from the beginning about how bad it was (plenty of tales told out there), and how bad most of them fear it could be again.

[Nunavut Pants]

I disagree, it's too soon to end the madates and just act like everything is normal. It's going to end up in another surge.

I concur. With something like two-thirds of the population unprotected by vaccines, this is way too early to ditch the masks. I mean, I'm hoping that we won't have a surge that fills up most of the ERs in the country, but that does seem to be the most likely outcome.

[telecom_goddess]

I disagree, it's too soon to end the madates and just act like everything is normal. It's going to end up in another surge.

[Monterey Jack]

Sorry, but "optional" means "optional". It's time we ended the mask mandates, already. I know I'll refuse to wear mine at work once I'm no longer required to wear one, especially since I have a carriage shift next week on a day when it's gonna peak over 90 degrees and I'm not allowed to take the mask off even outside.

[Ghel]

Our Branch Manager changed the signs from "Face Masks Required" to "Face Masks Optional," and we have a bunch of customers coming in saying "I saw the sign said optional, so I took my mask off." I don't like this. I would have been happier if he'd changed them to say "Face Masks Recommended."

[KuariKaydrith]

First round of the vaccine is in the bag, and I'm already scheduled for my next one. I'm team Pfizer.

[Arcus]

I've decided that I will keep my mask for high pollen days and cold/flu season. I hate the thing, but it made things better in those areas this last year.

[XCashier]

I've had both shots, but I think I'll still wear my mask for a while, at least through pollen season. It does help a lot with that.

[KuariKaydrith]

My first shot is scheduled for this Thursday and I've booked the next day off work just in case I have a lousy reaction. My province seems to finally be on track for getting everybody in for their vaccinations, but no decision has been announced concerning the need to continue wearing masks. While I'll be happy to no longer need to wear one, I may likely still wear one because this is the first year where I haven't ended up with a horrible spring cold.

[Seanette]

Got my second dose Saturday, at the same Walmart that handled the first dose (convenient location). They had signs up about walkins welcome.

[Racket_Man]

YES I got my first dose last week because our local Mart of Wals id now doing walk in vaxx's

[Monterey Jack]

Screw it, down with masks! I'm GLEEFUL at this news, and can't wait until my store chain joins with the others kicking masks to the curb.

[Kristev]

This is highly premature. The virus is still out there. Outside, on your own, I can understand. But indoors full of people, this is quite foolish. We're not at 70 % vaccination yet, not to mention the mutations.