Masks (POLL): when will you forego masks?

[SoonerPride]

Each person has to weigh their level of risk tolerance.

Maybe you have a high level of risk tolerance.

Or maybe you have zero risk tolerance.

We have many threads of posters proclaiming they still wear masks. Is that permanent? Temporary?

Is there a theshold at which you will feel safe to stop wearing masks in most situations ie Dining, Shopping, and Social gatherings with friends and family?

I haven’t seen a discussion of when those who still wear masks will feel comfortable stopping wearing them.

Please complete this sentence.

I intend to stop wearing masks in public settings and return to life as it was in 2019 …

59 votes, 9 passes | Time left: Unlimited
	Never
	12 (20%)
	When covid no longer exists
	4 (7%)
	When 70% are vaccinated world wide
	6 (10%)
	When 70% are vaccinated in the U.S.
	0 (0%)
	When 70% are vaccinated in my state/local area
	11 (19%)
	I stopped masking already because I am vaccinated and no longer feel like I am at risk.
	26 (44%)
	9 DU members did not wish to select any of the options provided.
Show usernames Disclaimer: This is an Internet poll

[maxsolomon]

1. I mask indoors when the venue requests it.

I have stopped masking outdoors because the transmission rates are very very low & I am vaccinated.

Indoors-Only wasn't one of the options.

[SoonerPride]

4. Indoors only until when though?

It wasn’t an option because it doesn’t address the question.

Indoors until the end of time?

At what point will masking indoors cease for you?

[maxsolomon]

19. I said "when the venue requests it"

I am already not masking indoors when not required, and when around family and friends. It feels weird but I am vaccinated and I have no co-morbidities.

I have occasionally masked when not required where people are sketchy and look like Republican blockheads.

[SoonerPride]

20. Thank you.

I have only found one store that is still requesting masks and of course in that instance I gladly comply.

[maxsolomon]

29. Seattle has tons.

Restaurants are still requesting masks when you leave your table.

[USALiberal]

63. Lol, you are cracking me up! Nt

[happybird]

2. Can't pick one to sum it up.

I’m somewhere between wearing one and not wearing one.

We don’t wear them at work anymore because we are all fully vaccinated. Same with being around my family. I don’t wear one around my friends, some of whom are not vaccinated.

But, I still wear one when going into any store, or anywhere indoors around strangers. Don’t know how long I’ll do this, probably until then virus is gone (or, as gone as it can be. I have a feeling we’ll be getting yearly boosters for a long time).

[Maru Kitteh]

3. I mask everywhere it is required or requested.

I am fully vaccinated, have been since January. I do not mask where it is not required or requested.

[Ocelot II]

5. I'll wear them in crowded places indoors this winter, covid or no covid.

There are plenty of other diseases besides covid. For once I managed to go a whole year without getting sick at all; normally I get at least a couple of colds every winter, once in awhile something worse, like bronchitis. Masks are commonly worn in Asia to avoid getting sick, seems sensible to me.

[Lochloosa]

6. That is my thinking. Haven't had so much as a cold in 18 months

[marble falls]

9. My allergies have gotten better since the mask.

[lagomorph777]

62. +1000; I sometimes wear one outdoors even when nobody is around.

It blocks dust and pollen.

[SoonerPride]

7. That is my plan as well.

I will mask when shopping in the fall and winter.

Otherwise no masks.

[Luciferous]

14. I was thinking of doing this as well. I didn't even get a cold last year and I worked at a school.

[femmedem]

8. My response isn't that specific.

This evening I ate at a restaurant for the first time in a year and a half. I took the chance because I'm fully vaccinated in a small city with a high vaccination rate and where there have been two cases in the last week and a half.

I'm still wearing masks when I shop or am inside public spaces, except for eating tonight, but more for other peoples' peace of mind than my own. But I suspect that within a month, the covid numbers are going to climb here as Delta takes over, and at that point I'll be wearing my mask until the numbers drop again. Drop how far? I don't have a specific number. But I'll be wearing a mask at that point and tracking how well the vaccine I took prevents breakthrough infections.

[Biophilic]

10. Good question. I'm really not sure. There are so many variables right now that

it is hard to think in 'definites'. I'm going to wait and see what happens. Being retired helps a lot. I don't have to deal with many everyday things outside of the house. Right now I'm hanging onto my masks.

[Carlitos Brigante]

11. I couldn't say for sure. We're playing it by ear for now until we

see where things go with these variants. Overall, people in Chicago have been pretty good reg vaccines and masks.

But let me also take this moment to shit on these scamming/lying ass goat fuckers who have gotten into my mother in law's head with all this moronic ass-clownish conspiracy horseshit. When it's your time to go. You won't be missed.

[NH Ethylene]

12. I'm going to continue forever.

I plan to avoid the seasonal flu and possibly all colds by masking indoors in public places.

[Deuxcents]

32. Yes.. that's my goal, too

[Scrivener7]

13. I periodically reduce my masking habits. Right now, there are few cases in

my local area and in my state. I've only been masking when inside with people I don't know, like in the grocery store or restaurants while I'm not eating.

Now Delta is coming. I'm watching it's progress. If the cases start going up here (like, maybe a 20% or more for a week) I'll go back to more caution.

I'm vaxxed, but there are conflicting reports about how vaxxed people fare against Delta. And even asymptomatic cases can leave far reaching problems.

[Unwind Your Mind]

15. I'm wearing them indoors around people I don't know

Stores mostly, I enjoyed not getting sick all the time and I wish people who feel ill would wear them.

[Raven123]

16. With variants on the rise, and young children not yet eligible, I'm wearing indoors still

Would rather spent mask-free time among those in my world who are vulnerable or vaccinated

[SoonerPride]

17. Until?

At what threshold does that change for you ?

That’s my question.

[Raven123]

71. Until the youngsters get vaccinated and I see how well my community does in the face if the variants

[struggle4progress]

21. I'm not sure. I think my vaccination protects me pretty well

but it won't keep me from catching and spreading variants, so I'm assuming that wearing it is just good citizenship

[Wicked Blue]

22. Even if the pandemic is brought under control, I will mask for flu seasons nt

[Demovictory9]

23. other... I wear masks into all stores still and whereever required. started joining unmasked

meetups at restaurants. .. so hybrid masking.

[Ms. Toad]

24. I have a two-part criteria -

70% in the local area (whichever area I am in at the time)
< 50 cases/100,000 over a two-week period in the same area.

We have currently met the second (abot 26 cases currently), but we are at less than 50% vaccination - which means it is noly a matter of time until the case density goes back up.

[Withywindle]

25. I'm so used to wearing masks now I don't really see it as onerous

It's not a big deal. Just something you put on like any other item of clothing. I'm not bothered by wearing them at all so there's no urgent rush to take them off. Someday I'm sure I will but there's no rush.

Kinda nice, actually. Creepy men don't tell me to smile nearly as much. I don't feel self-conscious about my crooked teeth.

I'm sure lipstick manufacturers hate it but I don't see why it would bother anyone else.

[smirkymonkey]

26. I am not really masking anymore, unless required by an establishment or if I am in a crowded area,

which I try to avoid.

I haven't been leaving my apartment much since the mandatory masking requirement was dropped here in Boston because of the heat and also I am still a little wary. I am kind of in a wait and see mode and probably will be until the end of the calendar year. I think if we get hit with a second wave it will be sometime this fall.

[Niagara]

27. As of May 31, I'm fully vaccinated with Pfizer.

Weather permitting, I speed walk every evening. I do not wear a mask while outside exercising since no one is around me.



I still wear a mask in both indoor and outdoor public settings such at the grocery store or the local farmers market.




I still wear a mask for the following reasons: No vaccine is 100% effective. Covid vaccinations may not prevent a person from spreading the virus to others. For me, wearing a mask while being fully vaccinated is like doubling up on contraceptives. The mask hides my unwanted ladystache and I don't have to hot wax my upper lip all the time. I'm considered obese and diabetes runs rampant in my family. Also, Covid is a great excuse not to hang out with my MAGAt family members...I don't have to listen to their political bullshit tirades. Wearing a mask also makes the MAGAts upset and bent out of shape which is a massive bonus.



I don't know when I'll stop wearing a mask. It depends on my comfort level and right now I'm not comfortable not wearing a mask in public settings.


I currently have no job and no health insurance which would be an additional reason why I still continue to mask.

[Yavin4]

28. I won't wear a mask, and I don't judge that do.

I respect your choice to wear a mask. So, please respect my choice to not wear one.

I am fully vaxxed.

[Calculating]

31. Vaxed and done with masks

Went bowling a week ago and about 90% of the people there weren't wearing one. I didn't feel at all worried, it was nice seeing life getting back to normal.

[LAS14]

30. I've been a vaccine believer and have only worn a mask...

... to be a good citizen and set a model for the unvaccinated.

But now, after reading the long thread on the delta variant I think I'm going to put the mask back on until I hear from Fauci re the news from Israel and the UK.

[druidity33]

33. When my child can get vaccinated...

until the i will still mask in stores and at work.

So i passed on your question... because none of the responses quite fit.

K&R

[Hugin]

48. It's a biased poll.

What with a half a dozen "will mask" options to split up the majority and only one to accumulate the people who don't understand there are more probability distributions than the so called normal curve.

[hamsterjill]

34. I'm surveying each individual situation

And will err on the side of caution. Amongst family and close friends that I know are vaccinated, I’m more relaxed and unmasked. But out and about, I’m still curtailing that as much as reasonably possible (curbside pickup where that works) and I’m still masking. In Texas, I think that’s prudent.

[Shrek]

35. I last wore a mask 8 weeks ago

Don’t plan to ever again.

[Duppers]

36. Fully VACCINATED people are dying of the CoVid Varient

Please see...

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/vaccinated-people-are-dying-from-the-delta-variant-but-in-small-numbers-and-almost-all-are-over-50-uk-data-shows/ar-AALx7Iw



I'm fully vaccinated but over 50 so I intend to keep wearing masks! Yes, I get some nasty stares from RW-ers but F them!

[SoonerPride]

37. The average age of those dying who have been vaxxed is 82

So yes. Vaccines are not foolproof.

Each person has to weigh their risk tolerance.

[Duppers]

38. I'm not that old ...yet. 😉

But I hope to make it to that age.

Besides, masks are a minor inconvenience for me. The plus is that it helps me to ID the idiots.

[SoonerPride]

39. It sounds like virtue signaling rather than science

[Duppers]

41. Well, it my way of being super-safe

I have some serious medical problems & am immunocompromised. I should've stated that, so there is a science component for me.

There's a doc on Brian Williams now, restating that the WHO advises that ppl who have been vaccinated continue wearing masks.

Btw, saw my general practitioner this afternoon and he demands masks in his office for everyone even those vaccinated.

[madville]

44. The masks have become a comfort object for many

Basically a security blanket, quite a few will never be able to go out in public without one, the psychological aspect is fascinating.

[Duppers]

52. ...

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215572903

[madville]

70. Yep, and N95 should be the minimum required

For effective protection from the delta variant.

[Duppers]

51. Ck OhioChick's thread here...

Last edited Tue Jun 29, 2021, 08:46 AM - Edit history (1)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215572903

[SoonerPride]

61. Smallpox was eliminated with a vaccine.

Not a mask.

[Duppers]

64. Indeed.

I know...and there was also a variant of smallpox which the vaccine protected against.

However, even the Pfizer vaccine does not protect everyone against the Delta Variant of Covid. And several more variants have been identified.

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant.html

[Duppers]

66. Never thought I'd have to defend mask-wearing here

On DU, of all places!

I feel as if I've been discussing this with some right-wingers! I'm off now.

[SoonerPride]

67. Masks were all we had a year ago.

They offer minimal protection.

The vaccine is the solution.

If you are vaxxed you have an infinitesimally small chance of adverse reaction to covid - ANY VARIANT - so at this point wearing masks is more virtue signaling than science.

[Duppers]

68. I have CFIDS

That's an abbreviation for Chronic fatigue and immune dysfunction syndrome. It causes me to be a bit immunosuppressed, as I stated above...somewhere.

But I keep having to defend my choice, my decision to wear less than 2oz of fabric on my face, as if I have to justify that to anyone.


Btw, are you reading the threads in General Discussion today on the virus?

[SoonerPride]

69. I am not attacking mask wearing.

In your case with comorbidities it obviously makes sense to wear an N95 mask.

As I stated when I started the thread each person has to assess their own level of risk tolerance.

I follow the outbreak nationwide and locally as well.

Our numbers in Oklahoma have collapsed which is a great thing. Should they rise dramatically my assessment of incipient risk would change.

As of now, for me, as a healthy 55 year old who is fully vaccinated I think the risk is so minute as to be virtually nonexistent.

[uponit7771]

43. Expected, vaxed never meant fully inoculated. The numbers are super low

[Arazi]

40. Outdoors, never masked. Indoors, always masked. Haven't faced private gatherings yet

So I don't know what I'll do there

I've never been a concert-goer, or movie buff so I don't miss that. I'll still always choose outdoor dining at restaurants as I always have (so unmasked).

This is the novel coronavirus. We don't yet know how safe we are with the variants so I'll continue to mask indoors. It's not a hardship for me and I'm not a weirdo anamoly here by continuing to mask indoors

[susanr516]

42. I will continue to wear a mask when I am indoors in public places

I have a granddaughter who isn't old enough to be vaccinated yet. I'm fully vaccinated, but there's still so much we don't know about new variants and how contagious they are.

[GulfCoast66]

45. Not really an answer that suits. I marked not wearing one. But that not 100% true

If grocery shopping on a super busy Saturday I still wear it. On a Wednesday morning? Not so much.

And I’m just 55 so not at high risk of a deadly breakthrough cases.

I guess it situational. I always have one with me. If I feel it is too crowded I’ll throw it on. But that’s rare. We normally dine outside when we eat out and have not worn one there since well before I was vaccinated. And in Florida outside eating is easy in the summer even with shade and fans. Most people want the 72 degrees inside. I freeze. We like Florida summers.

[Elessar Zappa]

57. 72 is actually too warm for me.

I keep my house at 66 degrees. I get overheated very easily so I keep it cool.

[GulfCoast66]

58. Depending on a person age and health different temperatures affect us differently.

But the wife and have spent a lifetime pretty much outside in Florida. Our bodies have adjusted. We have started designing our retirement home which will be on the Florida gulf coast. Lots of big porches is mandatory.

As long as the sun is not hitting my skin I’m good.

We are on the boat all summer long but I wear long sleeves, sun gloves, a buff and hat and shorts to my knees. The only tanned part of my body is from my knees to my feet. The wife likes the sun and will fish in a bikini. With a big hat to keep it off her face.

But as I posted prior it’s normally high 80’s low 90’s. 100’s is a different story.

Most Florida natives I know can handle the heat. I’m always amused by folks that relocate here then spend the 6 months of summer inside a 72 degree home. I hate the cold. No way I would move to Michigan or anywhere up north.

[mvd]

46. Wearing it still because still afraid of Covid

Even if that goes away or is very rare, I plan on wearing it during the winter months to prevent colds and flu.

[Hugin]

47. Never will I, "return to life as it was in 2019"...

As you will recall.

There was a bloated tick of a despotic toddler squatting in the WH.

So, no.

Don't let me stand in your way, have at it.

[Ms. Toad]

49. Given the tone of conversations here recently -

I'm pleasantly surprised to see fewer than 50% no longer wearing masks.

[OhioChick]

50. I'll stop masking up when my kids tell me it's safe to do so n/t

[Duppers]

59. Folks may not know, your kids are Doctors!

Young docs who've seen the worst of this pandemic. Bless them!

[Roisin Ni Fiachra]

53. When my intuition tells me it is safe.

For now, living in a red county full of tourists and and local RW covidiots, my spidey sense is saying "protect yourself from teh stupid".

[Meowmee]

54. We continue to mask

And we will do so until it is safe. Currently not enough are vaxed, the infection rate is too high, delta, a more contagious variant is spreading, new variants could be developing which could be even worse. I know there are a lot of unvaxed idiots not masked here. Lately most stores I go to seem to have completely dropped the mask policy, I expected that at some point. The majority were still masked until 2-3 days ago.

I just spent the last week visiting my dad for his 7th hospital stay since the same er infected him with covid in January. Masking, temp checks, etc. all still required. Yet there were 50 people in the waiting room when I picked him up the day they infected him. I just read that only 70% of hospital workers are vaxed in my county. Only 53% of adults are fully vaxed and not all with pfizer obviously which offers higher protection but still not 100%, it is somewhere between 79-88% for delta as far as we know. I am very angry that I have to continue to be tortured and suffer because of a bunch of f idiots who are being allowed to walk around maskless now.

This is a terrible time to live through to see such utter stupidity here and the idea that it is ok to give up and stop containing the spread etc. as much as possible and that certain numbers casualties are ok. Covid 19 has destroyed my family's life. I blame that on the US.

I don’t like masking, I have asthma which is worse from lh after covid pneumonia but it is the only way to fully protect myself from possible bt infections and others along with sd.

[Amishman]

55. done with masks unless a strain emerges which largely circumvents the vaccine

the risk prospects would need to change very significantly for me to do it.

Also done with social distancing and isolation in just about all foreseeable scenarios. I essentially put my life on hold for over a year, I'm going to enjoy life and do what I want.

[Elessar Zappa]

56. I had stopped wearing masks

but I’m going to start again while this delta variant rages and wait and see the death rate from vaccinated people.

[hunter]

60. I haven't even had a mild cold since this pandemic began.

Normally, I'd have had two or three in this time.

(It was worse when I was a teacher. Schools are germ factories.)

I've been hospitalized too many times in my life for pneumonia.

I'm going to be looking at everyone as if they are contagious from now on.

My mask offends you?

Fuck off, asshole.

[ShazamIam]

65. I was ready to re-mask but have now read that Moderna is effective against the Delta, so will bring

my mask along and if a place I want to enter is crowded, I will mask up, otherwise not.
Edit add: Of course I will mask if venue requires mask. 2nd Cap D in delta, move comma.