Mask Panic Attack!!!!.....

[global1]

I'm wondering if anyone is having the same experience as I am having.

All through this pandemic I protected myself (72y/o with underlying conditions). I quarantined. I socially distanced. I wore my mask. I wore protective eye covering. I wore rubber gloves. Carried hand sanitizer and used it religiously. Washed my hands. Didn't touch my face. Isolated all my mail and sanitized it with Lysol spray before I opened it. Wiped down any item I bought at a store or was delivered to my home. I'm vaccinated since March. Pfizer 2 shots.

Now the CDC and my State have said we aren't required to wear masks if we are vaccinated.

The town that I live in had a 4th of July concert in the center of town on July 2nd. I ventured down there trying to get back to some semblance of normalcy.

The area where the concert was staged was cordoned off and the townspeople were crammed into a small space with their chairs, blankets, coolers, and picnic baskets.

Nobody - I repeat - nobody - was wearing a mask.

I tried to be brave and ventured into the crowd without my mask on.

The people were literally one on top of another. Kids and teenagers were running through the crowd. The adults were imbibing on liquid alcoholic refreshments. Everybody appeared to be enjoying themselves.

It looked like pre-pandemic times. One would have never known that we just came out of this year of quarantine and isolation.

As I got further into the crowd - I FROZE. The thought of all these people around me. Bumping into me. Breathing on me. Caused me to panic and I froze. Standing in the midst of this crowd - taking it all in and I began to hold my breath and look for the quickest exit out of this cordoned area.

I couldn't wait to get back into my car and get back home where I felt safe and secure.

I want to know if my experience here was just me - OR - has anyone else out there had a similar experience.

I know that if I go shopping anywhere - I will be wearing my mask. What I don't know is if I'll ever be able to break myself of that mask habit and get back to normal.

I'm curious to hear about others experiences and any suggestions that will get me to rejoin society and return to normalcy.

[Throck]

1. I go with the CDC and my state rules.

Social distancing is easy enough. I stay 12' away from everyone in public. I have practiced my death stare for years. I'm cautious but don't live in chronic fear. I think people have become over cautious. Feels good to breath fresh air and feel sunshine on my face.

[Marrah_Goodman]

2. I get a bit freaked out too.

I've been trying to be less freaked out and have gone into a couple places without mask. Now I have a head cold and am second guessing myself 😒

[snowybirdie]

3. I'm wearing

A mask whenever I see people gathered. We seniors need to set the standard and protect ourselves. I really don't give a dang at this stage what I look like to others. I wear one in stores too. Can't hurt and might help. Guidelines are just that, guides. Do what feels comfortable to you.

[agingdem]

24. I'm not letting go of my mask

masks work...no cold, flu, stomach virus, bronchitis, allergies...and I like it...yes I know common wisdom is in order to build up immunities we need to be exposed to whatever is out there...after almost 73 years I've had my share of "exposure"...and after a recent serious illness, my immunities are pretty much shot...and yes, I'm fully vaccinated but the delta variant scares me...asymptomatic or "mild" symptoms ..no thanks...my mask stays!!..but what the hell do I do with all the damn liquid sanitizers, wipes, protective glasses, and latex latex gloves??

[wnylib]

60. Totally agree with you.

Breakthrough infections of Alpha covid are rare, but when they do happen, it is overwhelmingly among seniors. Breakthrough infections with Delta covid are also not common, but do occur more often than with Alpha, and mostly among seniors. The reason for that is that the inmune systems of seniors are less robust as we age and produce less antibodies.

So it is up to us to decide what is a safe risk for us, especially if we have underlying health issues, which most seniors do. Given my age and underlying conditions, I am not playing covid roulette.

[Stuart G]

99. It ain't over till it's over...It ain't over yet...Is it?

[Scrivener7]

4. The CDC has told us a lot of wrong information throughout this pandemic. I'm masking.

And I'm watching the breakthrough infection numbers for Delta and will take further precautions if they rise.

[SheltieLover]

9. Where are you finding breakthrough infection #s?

I've been tenaciously searching & coming up empty.

Since CDC stopped reporting breakthrough infections & only reporting hospitalizations & deaths, it's almost like there is a gag on this information.

OhioChick's ER Dr. son had 8 otherwise healthy young adults, fully vaxed - 2 doses - die in one week in ICU recently.



On edit: the 8 patients who died were in 20s & 30s!

[Scrivener7]

12. I need to go out right now, but it was in an Eric Feigl Ding twitter thread. I can't locate

it, but will look again when I get home.

I'm just not taking any chances. Even asymptomatic cases sometimes have long term effects. And even a small percentage means it's possible.

Let me get back to you when I find that thread.

Happy 4th!

[SheltieLover]

15. Glad you are awRe & being careful!

Ty & have a great 4th!

I'll look too.

[orleans]

92. i just googled his name, twitter, breakthrough

and found this but it looks like one of his links was deleated; i clicked on it and the page doesn't exist

Link to tweet

[Scrivener7]

93. I can't find it. It might have been in that deleted tweet, but it was numbers that were

concerning. If he deleted it, it was for a reason, so I won't repeat the numbers.

But the end result is this: if breakthrough infections do become a serious issue with Delta, we will know very soon. There are reports of the possibility, so why risk it? Wearing a mask is not a big deal.

If all this turns out to be worry for nothing, we will have saved ourselves a common cold or two.

There is no downside to caution.

[lapucelle]

94. I'm not hearing the CDC saying that "the Delta variant is no big deal";

nor is the CDC "insisting" that there is "no transmission if vaccinated".

The CDC classified the delta strain a "variant of concern" back in the middle of June. I think Dr. Ding's tweet borders on misinformation in this respect.

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

[lapucelle]

95. Here's a screen shot of the cached version of the deleted tweet that Dr. Ding linked to.

[lapucelle]

27. COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Infections Reported to CDC -- United States, January 1-April 30, 2021

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/70/wr/mm7021e3.htm

COVID-19 Vaccine Breakthrough Case Investigation and Reporting

As of May 1, 2021, CDC transitioned from monitoring all reported vaccine breakthrough cases to focus on identifying and investigating only hospitalized or fatal cases due to any cause. This shift will help maximize the quality of the data collected on cases of greatest clinical and public health importance.

snip===============================================================================

The number of COVID-19 vaccine breakthrough infections reported to CDC likely are an undercount of all SARS-CoV-2 infections among fully vaccinated persons. National surveillance relies on passive and voluntary reporting, and data might not be complete or representative. These surveillance data are a snapshot and help identify patterns and look for signals among vaccine breakthrough cases.

Data on patients with vaccine breakthrough infection who were hospitalized or died will be updated regularly. Studies are being conducted in multiple U.S. sites that will include information on all vaccine breakthrough infections regardless of clinical status to supplement the national surveillance.

https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/health-departments/breakthrough-cases.html

[SheltieLover]

32. Ty

Looking for numbers somewhere where mRNA vaxes were given, but finding nothing.

This practice of hiding info really worries me.

Asymptomatic / mild breakthrough cases can & often do result in long-haul.

Ty!

[lapucelle]

38. You might find this article helpful.

Six months of COVID vaccines: what 1.7 billion doses have taught scientists

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-021-01505-x

I don't think that information is being hidden by the CDC. Go to their website and subscribe to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) to follow data as it evolves.

https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/publications/index.html

[SheltieLover]

40. Ty.

I'm trying to find out the % of breakthrough infections, regardless of hospitalization or death, but it doesn't seem to be available.

I did see that up to 50% of delta infections in Israel were among elders. Scary!

I'll check your links. Ty!

[wnylib]

64. The hiding of information bothers me, too.

I think it is motivated by a desire to get back to normal and boost the economy. For most people, that is OK. They will not get infected. For me, the risk is higher, so I remain cautious.

[SheltieLover]

70. Same here, Wyn!

Happy 4th!

[mgardener]

37. Here

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/breakthrough-infections-after-covid-vaccination-are-rare-cdc-says-n1268530

[SheltieLover]

73. Tyvm!

Happy 4th!

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

72. I really wonder about those 8 supposedly healthy young adults fully vaxed.

Really? Healthy? Not obese? No diabetes or auto-immune condition? I'm somehow very skeptical, because if that had happened in one week in one ICU, young, healthy fully vaxed people should be dropping like flies everywhere.

I do know that every time I found a picture of a young person who died of Covid, they were clearly very overweight to obese. Which unfortunately is a huge risk.

The CDC says it stopped reporting breakthrough infections because they are so rare. I'm willing to believe them.

[Scrivener7]

74. 40% of US adults are obese. If obesity allows breakthrough deaths, that's a problem.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

81. I wouldn't be at all surprised.

Given that every young person whose picture I was able to find on the internet was clearly very overweight/obese, I strongly suspect it's a possible issue here.

I feel very grateful I've been able to get my own BMI down from 31.6 or thereabouts, to 23.8 since last summer. Meaning from obese to normal weight. I do know how hard it is to lose weight, especially as we are surrounded by food, advertisements for food, and huge portion sizes in all food places. I now weigh less than I have in at least 35 years. What seems to me to be somewhat scary is that we have all gotten so used to so many people being overweight or obese, that it no longer looks strange to us. Go look at a high school yearbook from the 1960s and one now. The difference in the size of the students is shocking.

But back to my original point. I'm not convinced that 8 perfectly healthy, fully vaccinated, young adults died in one ICU recently from Covid, and that none of them had some kind of underlying condition. As I said before, if that were true, then we'd expect to see lots and lots of such young people dying from Covid everywhere. That's just not happening.

[Scrivener7]

82. I see no reason to doubt the word of the doc who said the 8 died. Guessing whether they

are free of underlying conditions seems to me to be a fruitless exercise because, as I said, 40% of Americans are obese, and a certain percentage more have other underlying conditions. So if they died because they had underlying conditions, it doesn't really eliminate enough people to make anyone feel good about it.

So what it boils down to is this: If this is a one-off, great. If not, we'll know shortly.

[QED]

5. Not yet

I haven't been in crowds but will be in a possibly contagious situation soon.

We will be going back to school in a few weeks, in a red area where many still think the virus is a hoax so many are unvaccinated. We cannot socially distance in our classrooms due to large class sizes. That, plus the number of unvaccinated teens, has me plenty worried.

We can't require masks of students thanks to our red legislature. So, even though I've had the shot, I think I'll be safer wearing a mask. I don't want the delta variant, I don't want any of it.

[wnylib]

65. Dr. Feigl-Ding is recommending

an upgrade of masks to at least KN95 or equivalent. He says that cloth masks alone are not effective against Delta. Another option is to double mask with a combination of surgical (paper) masks and triple layer cotton masks. It is also important that the mask(s) are sealed with a close fit at the nose and cheeks. That's why the 2 mask combo is good. Surgical masks gap at the cheeks. A well fitting cloth mask is snug at the cheeks. A surgical mask seals better at the nose than most cloth masks.

[Scrivener7]

83. Amazon has the KN95s for a reasonable price these days. Just got a box.

[wnylib]

85. I ordered some months ago.

Now I can restock for 1/4 the price I paid before.

[SheltieLover]

6. Sounds like common sense to me!

Have you read Harvard epidemiologist, Dr. Ding's tweet?

Rhiannon has graciously compiled pertinent tweets & posted them in #4 at this thread:

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215572903

Spoilers: Delta is more contageous than smallpox. Cloth masks are no longer adequate. Breakthrough infections resulting in asymptomatic or mild cwses can, and often do, cause long-haul!

Sounds to me as if your conscious mind was seeking pre-pandemic normalcy & your enteric nervous system kicked in & you got out of there!

[dickthegrouch]

7. You're not the only one

I've been shocked at how many people are representing themselves as "fully vaccinated" when the government says it's only about 2/3rds of us.
The MSM isn't helping by having dumped all the reporting about how the pandemic is still raging in other parts of the world, and why it's highly likely new variants are going to spread.
While the vaccinations have been effective so far, no-one knows how long they last.

I'm with you. Mask on for another year in public.

I have eaten in a couple of favorite restaurants, where the owners are friends, but only at 3pm. I am not about to deal with the crowds.

[dweller]

8. I'll wear a mask the rest of my life

I’ve been mouthing ‘fuck you’ and ‘fuck off’ to so many people
I don’t think I’ll be allowed to live without it …

✌🏻

[SheltieLover]

10. Lol

[underpants]

13. Okay that made me chuckle.

😆

Masks are great for on-the-go snacking too!

[Laffy Kat]

56. I will too. The Japanese have been wearing masks in public for years.

It helps to protect against all pathogens. It can't hurt. It sets a good example. No real reason not to.

[True Dough]

86. Bahahaha!! I love it.

Thanks for the candor, and the laugh!

[leftyladyfrommo]

11. I don't go anywhere there is a crowd. I just turn

around and go home. And I have been vaccinated but I don't really trust it yet.

[sarcasmo]

14. No crowds for me, I'm keeping the same lock down routine.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

16. Sounds like justified fear to me, but....

somewhat exaggerated because we've been isolated from society for so long. I feel the same way when I go out.

Like me (73 YO high risk male and I'm shy), you might try just going out into safe society more to get adjusted to people exposure. I have a few shopping areas where I feel safe with my mask on and plan to start wondering out more soon.

Good luck!

KY........

[sellitman]

17. I wear a mask at work 100 % of the time.

I wear one in stores or in crowds. I will be wearing one until I die. I haven't had a cold in over a year and that alone makes it worthwhile.

Anyone who gives me a hard time I brush off with my humor. I tell them I've been told I look much better in a mask. Everyone tells me so.

This works with ignorant Trumpets and confused leftists as well.

[PA_jen]

18. I am following WHO are suggesting mask wearing again. I haven't stop wearing and isolating

as much as possible. My father fully vaccinated got the Delta strain of Covid and passed. I am not taking any chances especially with talk of the Epsilon variant. Trust me we will be surges in 2 weeks.

[deurbano]

30. I'm so sorry for your loss.

[Stardust]

54. I'm sorry for your loss, too, Jen. 😢 ... n/t

[Ms. Toad]

19. Why force yourself to remove your mask?

Take the steps that are necessary to protect yourself.

Your current risk, vaccinated with Pfizer or Moderna, is still 19.2% of an unvaccinated person when we were faced only with the original variant. As far as I'm concerned, a 1/5 risk (compared to an the unvaccinated risk of the original COVID) warrants additional layers of protection (masking and distancing).

I'm comfortable not wearing a mask outside, but I still wear a mask indoors, and will continue to do so until at least 70% of my community is vaccinated (we're only at 48%) - and then only as long as the infection rate in the community remains below 50 cases/100,000 people, over a 2-week period.

It is clear that unvaccinated people are pretending they don't have to wear masks. That means they will continue to spread Delta COVID (to each other, to our unvaccinated children, and to us (at a rate of 20% of the rate at which they spread original COVID to others)). They will continue to create more variants, with an increasing risk that our vaccines will not prevent us from catching it. That increases our exposure, and increases the chance that we will be one of the 1/5 breakthrough cases (compared to the unvaccinated risk with the original COVID). COVID is already increasing again in the US. As of yesterday the US cases were up 7% over the prior week. For the last 3-4 weeks, we have been consistently up as much as 12%.

Masks and distancing are a small inconvenience for an added layer of safety they provide.

As to rejoiniing society - outside of the lockdown period, I never left society. I've been working in my office (and teaching in-person classes as large 30 students) 6-7 days a week since August. I do most of the family shopping. The only thing I don't do is engage in activities that require unmasking indoors.

You don't have to abandon safety to "rejoin society."

[Blue_true]

20. I have continued to wear my mask while in enclosed spaces

and around people whose vaccination status is unknown to me. What I am finding is that even when masked I am more comfortable if someone gets too close to me. My guess is once I know solidly what my odds are with the Delta variant, I will be ok with taking off the mask everywhere. It looks like data so far is indicating that even if I as a fully vaccinated person get Covid, the chances that it will cause anything more than sniffles for me is very small.

What I say is you know what your own person risk factors are and those of your loved ones that you have close contact with. Let that be your guide. If it looks like you can freely give up the mask, then do so. If it looks like you should mask up when you know you are potentially among unmasked people, then mask up. It should be about matching your decision to your risk situation.

[BannonsLiver]

21. What you experienced is completely normal

And there will likely be other moments like it. On the upside, you clearly would like the pandemic to end, as evidenced by your attempt at normalcy. That’s a contrast from some posters who desperately hope it goes on so they don’t have to socialize or go back to the office or whatever it is they’re using it for. I’m sure a couple of them will show up in this thread, if they haven’t already. Best bet is to continue to wear the mask if you feel it makes you safer. It’s not really any more complicated than that.

[Ms. Toad]

33. You mistake recognition that we aren't anywhere near the end of the pandemic

with wanting it to continue. One posture takes (and recommends others take) reasonable steps, in addition to vaccination, to avoid contracting COVID. As for socializing and going back to the office - I've been in the office 6 days a week since August, as well as socializing in small groups with masks for just as long.

As far as desperately hoping the pademic continues - I have not seen anyone here (or anywhere else) who falls in this category - despite your repeated condescending attempts to characterize those of us who advocate taking reasonable precautions in that manner.

COVID is on the rise again in the US (and has been for 3-4 weeks), as those of us advocating continuing taking precautions predicted. At the end of yesterday, cases were up 7% over the number of cases the previous week. They have been up as much as 11% during the same time. The level of exposure that would have created 100 cases of regular COVID pre-vaccine will now create 19.2 cases of Delta COVID in those vaccinated with the mRNA vaccines because of the increased infectiousness and the decreased effectiveness. Even those vaccinated can contract COVID - and pass it on to children who are still prohibited from protecting themselves (or to unvaccinated people who will take it home to their children who cannot be vaccinated).

While vaccines provide significant protection, they are not perfect. Just as layers of protection made sense before vaccines were available, they continue to make sense now.

[BannonsLiver]

41. LOL

Bless your heart.

[Ms. Toad]

42. Don't ascribe ugly ulterior motives to, or make baseless claims about any member of this community

[Scrivener7]

75. You say something like this in every thread on this topic. People who are more cautious

than you with respect to Covid seem to really piss you off. Do people who are more cautious than you in other areas of life piss you off as well?

It's kind of interesting.

[liberal_mama]

77. I think a lot of people realize that the pandemic is still ongoing

Saying it's over doesn't mean it's over. New cases have been going up the past few weeks unfortunately.

[BannonsLiver]

80. Nobody is saying it's over

[womanofthehills]

22. I wear my mask on a pretty lanyard around my neck when I go out

So I can grab it fast if I need to. I have a nice collection of really pretty floral masks and lanyards. Always getting compliments on my masks. I definitely would not go into a large group - even outdoors. My book club,after months of meeting on Zoom, finally met maskless outside but I made sure I was 10 feet from the closest person.

[Arkansas Granny]

23. The vaccination rate in my state and county are abysmal. Cases are on the rise snd

include the Delta variant. Too many people around here act like Covid is done and over with.

I'm 74 and fully vaccinated since March. I have relaxed some of my routine, but will continue to wear a mask in stores and avoid crowds. I carry hand sanitizer, gloves and extra masks at all times because it makes me feel more secure.

[Patterson]

25. I went to the funeral of a guy who died in May after a month on a vent.

It was inside and packed. I was the only person, including the preachers, family, and funeral people who was wearing a mask. I will double mask inside until things get much much better.

[Ferrets are Cool]

26. To each his/her own, but I don't go anywhere without my double mask's on

and I was vaccinated in February. Not taking any chances. It's a small inconvenience.

[dawg day]

28. I generally wear the mask when I'm around other people indoors

Or in close quarters outdoors (like at a baseball game).

Certainly it will do no harm.

And I haven't had a cold since.... Jan 2020!
So even vaccinated, I see a benefit to the mask.

[3catwoman3]

29. I wasn't always a cynic, and for much of my life could probably have been...

...called a Pollyanna. Not just a glass-half-full, but a glass 7/8ths full kind of person.

I'm now 70, and the accumulating decades have chipped away at some of that.

I have zero confidence that anyone I see in a store with no mask has in fact been fully vaccinated. I'm willing to bet at least 50% of them haven't been.

So, mask staying put when around people of unknown status.

I think your reaction is quite understandable.

[intrepidity]

31. Same here

I went to the grocery store yesterday for the first time in several weeks, and was surprised and shocked at the number of unmasked. I was masked, and intend to keep being masked.

[Ms. Toad]

35. It's down to about 1% mask wearing here.

In a community with 48% vaccination.

Pretty sure I'm not encountering a disproportionately vaccinated crowd, especially since I'm in the 1% wearing a mask.

[Richard D]

34. Personally, I think it's too soon for "normal".

Delta and Delta Plus look to be really super-contagious. New varieties may evade the vaccines.
I'm still masking when in public indoors or in crowds (which I don't like so have no problem avoiding them.

A third wave would not surprise me at all.

[Duppers]

36. I'm not ready. And according to one DUer ....

...who posted in the lounge about masks: needing to wear a mask now, after you've been vaccinated, is just a psychosomatic "comfort" issue.

There's the smallest chance that you can still get the Delta variant but, like you, I'm not willing to take even that chance. I've so many co-morbidities, I'd be dead if I contracted any variant of CoVid.

[Scrivener7]

87. In the beginning of the pandemic, I was called a ghoul and was told that I wanted people to die

when I said there would be a higher death toll than the 60,000 that were being estimated at the time. A small number of posters were really quite vicious and clearly furious that I was voicing that opinion (which really was quite obvious at the time).

Lots of opinions around here. Some of them quite dumb.

My opinion? Wearing a mask is no big deal. Covid is a big deal. Decision made.

[Mazeltov Cocktail]

39. I always mask...

... I don't want to be mistaken for a republican...

[rownesheck]

62. I know it's silly,

but that's exactly why I might start wearing masks again.

[IronLionZion]

43. You can wear a mask even if no one else is

I wear a mask in my building's elevators and common areas, stores, takeout restaurants, etc. and am sometimes the only one wearing a mask. I don't care about any snide comments I get about it.

Here's a photo of some young healthy women masking outdoors at a British music festival and having fun.

[Evolve Dammit]

47. That's the spirit. No known pathogens can survive in beer. Distanced, masks on, shields up.

[IronLionZion]

49. In 2021, even if there's a military coup happening

we can all still mask up and get healthy

[Evolve Dammit]

51. Wow. That's spirit (and courage)

[AlexSFCA]

44. Masks are much less effective than vaccines

particularly when you are the one only wearing a mask, in which case might as well go with n95 respirator. This pandemic is over for fully vaccinated without serious underlying conditions. The delta variant media tactic is mostly to get more people vaccinated because hospitalizations for covid are now 98% unvaccinated people, they are 98% preventable and nearly 100% of all covid deaths are now preventable in the US. Only dumb adults who refuse to get vaccinated die of covid in the US so they should not be of concern as those people are dangerous anyway. Vaccinated adults who died of covid had comorbid conditions so they should in fact be as careful and wear n95 respirator. In fact, we should now focus on developing countries more. If you are healthy and fully vaccinated, outdoor crowds should not be of even marginal concern. Indoor space with thousands of unmasked people could be a concern but I believe most mass events are outdoors now (at least in summer months). I think everyone should evaluate local covid conditions, e.g., in SF Bay Area, for a fully vaccinated person to get sick from covid is less likely than to be in a car crash accident.
Healthy children under 12 (not eligible for vaccination) must avoid ALL crowds, indoors or outdoors, must wear masks, etc. Healthy children under 12 are extremely unlikely to get sick from covid or even develop symptoms. Out of countless millions, only 300 children died of covid in the US and nearly all had pre-existing conditions, flu has more serious consequences for kids and flu vaccines are less than 50% effective, do we mask our jids during flu season? I don’t recall it ever happened.

[niyad]

45. As I wrote in my letter to the anti-mask, anti-vax cretins, I hate them. Here am I, fully vaxxed,

as are all in my immediate circle. Claustrophobic. Yet, I must continue to mask, in this heat, because of these selfish, ignorant assholes. I don't/cannot trust any of them. May they all receive everything they deserve.

[SunSeeker]

52. The anti-vaxxers are walking covid variant factories.

Fuck them all for the damage they are doing to this world.

[FuzzyRabbit]

46. Reasons to keep wearing a mask:

It has been 18 months since I had a cold or flu.
People don't mistake me for a Republican.
I must look younger wearing a mask. Young women are smiling at me again.
I don't have to shave every day.

The main reason: Covid-19 is increasing in my county. Wearing a mask reduces greatly my chance of catching covid-19. I will go with a mask until covid is gone and my doctor's office and pharmacists stop wearing them.

[Evolve Dammit]

48. I still wear them in public and at the gym. And I'm not alone. Why risk even spreading it??

[SunSeeker]

50. My exact experience when I ventured on the packed Santa Monica Pier here in Souther California.

I've had my Pfizer shots too, but the Delta variant could still infect me. I was glad to get off that pier.

The fact is, the pandemic is far from over. And cases nationwide are up 10%. I just know their will be a surge in cases about 5-10 days after this holiday weekend.

The cases are less severe among the vaccinated, but...In the UK, where the Delta variant makes up more than 90% of cases, 26 of 73 total deaths associated with the Delta variant were among people who had been fully vaccinated. https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-50-of-delta-variant-cases-vaccinated-severe-2021-6

[Politicub]

53. You are braver than me, global1. I'm in the southeast, and our vaccination rate is

abysmal. I’m not ready to take the risk.

One of my suggestions is to think about the definition of normal. My normal has been evolving, and I’m still learning about the contours of it. Safety has become a bigger component of my day-to-day as well as the sad realization that so many don’t give a damn about vaccination.

Spending more time at home was hard at first. I’ve adjusted to it, though. I have learned to appreciate my home more.

[NoMoreRepugs]

55. Went to Home Depot this am, garden department.

Came across possibly 20 people - I was the ONLY masked individual. I have zero problem with it and will continue to mask and be careful until I read statistics say it’s practically gone. 71, NFlorida and vaccinated.

[Katinfl]

57. I hear what you are saying and I would say to you go with what you are comfortable with.

I always have a mask in my purse in case I feel compromised. I am 74 with no under lying conditions but I still am very aware of where I am and how many people. My husband and myself have not been in any crowds so we feel comfortable with our decisions. However, last week I went to a grand opening of a popular retail store and I immediately put on a mask because I knew it would be wall to wall people. Taking no chances. My advice would be to go with whatever you are comfortable with but try to stay away from crowds……..therein lies the problem. Personally, we have absolutely no problem with that. Good luck.

[Naio]

58. Panico 🙀

The same thing happened to me two weeks ago at my Grandson's graduation there were about 500 people there, I only counted 7 people with their masks the rest did not have masks, when I saw myself in the middle of all those people I went into panic I became trembling,pale and could not speak my pulse raced and my daughter had to pull me out of that crowd the experience was traumatic and I swore not to return to any activity with big crowds. I was using my mask

[48656c6c6f20]

59. I have to go out late at night

Or early morning. I wear a mask always, Pfizer alumni, but I get freaked out when I am near someone regardless of their vaccine status or mask wearing.

[HockeyMom]

61. I spent a lot of time and money

finding a fashion mask which fit me and didn't fall off my face. I will keep wearing it despite PA Governor saying the mandatory mask order is over for ALL.

When I went to a small mall and a Dollar Tree, nobody there was wearing a mask. All these people were vaccinated given our town's rate is in the 40% range?

Night and day at the Chinese Take Out. Inside was still locked up with plexiglass by the door, microphone to place your order, and a drawer to get your food and money. The staff were still wearing masks. I wore my mask in both places, except for outside in parking lot.

Are you going to get yelled at now FOR wearing a mask? My reasons for still masking are none of anybody's business.

[niyad]

69. I have a 6 ft oak staff. I would love to see anyone give me a hard time about my mask,

[littlemissmartypants]

63. AFAIAC, the maskless are just ambulatory petri dishes, the perfect environment for

percolating variants. I will not be giving up my masks any time soon. I am fully vaccinated and I wear two masks. Layer one is of cotton made from a short socks, very snug. I never wear the same one twice. They are cheep and easy to make.

The second, outer layer, is a disposable surgical mask. Which, as not many may know, are manufactured in such a way as to have an electrical charge unfavorable for transmission of airborne disease molecules of many varieties.

I also carry a box of the disposable masks in my car and always have a couple of extras in my handbag. I offer them to strangers who violate my "safe space" by telling them that I have a extra if they "need one to protect against the infected, like me."

Here's the thing, that phrasing "like me" is intentional, meant to imply that I am infected. In actuality, the implied meaning is that I am protecting myself against the virus and would they, like me, care to have a mask themselves so they can do the same. Whether they wear it or not, at least they have one readily handy in case they decide to make an effort. I have never had anyone refuse the offer.

If anything ceases to be a pleasant experience it's perfectly fine to remove yourself from the situation, whether it involves the virus or not.

I can definitely identify with the 'holding your breath while trying to get out of the crowd' experience. I used to have panic attacks to the point of passing out. I will never put myself in the position of possibly doing that again.

Thanks to therapy I have learned to identify the rapid shallow breathing and racing heart as signals of eminent danger and haven't passed out in a crowd in years.

Stay strong. You are not alone.

❤

[Lilaclady]

66. Still Masking

We’re both 74. We only go to the stores before 9:30a or after 6:30p. I’ve been in one restaurant and appreciated all the safety measures taken by the owners. Our son won’t get vaccinated because he thinks we’re overreacting. Our daughter is relying on Vitamin D and zinc. She works at a credit union, sings in her church and teaches art classes and also thinks we’re overreacting. She and our SIL and two adult grandsons are supposed to visit to pick up some furniture. I just ordered new masks and they’ll be required to wear them. We’re going to have pizza outdoors. But I am very nervous about being around them for any amount of time. It’s now advisable to wear KN95 masks.

[LAS14]

67. Whenever I see discussions like this I wish that someone would...

... collect stats on how post vaccination COVID deaths or infections compare with flu deaths/infections, automobile injuries/deaths, hepatitis deaths/infections, lightning strikes/deaths, etc., etc.

[Ms. Toad]

84. First that would be a snapshot in time - not a legitimate comparison.

Second - COVID has many consequences nearly as severe as death that people in a rush to toss their masks in the trash can seem to ignore.

The reality is that the same exposure that would have created 100 cases of regular COVID in the unvaccinated will now create 19.2 breakthrough cases of Delta Covid.

95% effectiveness against original COVID = 5 cases for every 100 in the unvaccinated.

60% increased infection rate = same exposure now creates 160 cases, rather than 100.

88% effectiveness against Delta COVID = .12 x 160 cases = 19.2 cases for the same exposure that created those original cases.

The snapshot in LA that people seem to be relying on was taken during mitigation (which reduced exposure by masking and social distancing). It was taken over a very short period of time (a few days to a few months) - that isn't a measure of risk of contractcing COVID - it is the materialized risk in a particular setting, over a particular very short time period, under the conditions in which it was taken.

To have any chance of realism as a prediction - you would need to increase the cases to account for the reduced exposure by masking and distancing that is no longer occurring. You would need to extend the measuring period from a few days (for some) or at most a few months) over the period we expect COVID to be circulating. In other words the snapshot treats all vaccinated people as if the only time they would ever contract COVID was the very small measuring period in which data was collected. In reality, it extents as long as COVID is around - and many of those same vaccinated people who are being celebrated as infection free will ultimately be infected (unless they take reasonable measures to protect themselves). Based on actual peer-reviewed research, extended to the current situation, ultimately about 19.2 for the same exposure that previously created 100 cases of regular COVID.

[leftstreet]

90. Ah

taken during mitigation

Hadn't thought of that. I'll have to keep it in mind when reading articles, etc

Thank you for your willingness to keep reliably bringing detailed Covid info to DU
Much appreciated

[LAS14]

96. Yes, I realize that a comparison would have to be over a substantial amount of time. I just wish it

were available.

[Ms. Toad]

97. since it isn't,

The best you can do is to compare efficacy rates, and increased infection rate - which is a pretty scary 19.2/100. The density of infections is lower now - so it will take longer to get the exposure that would create 100 COVID case. But it is currently increasing, We're outdoors - which again decreases exposure - but the mask recommendations also declare indoors "safe," when they are not. Glad Fauci is finally waking up and starting to recommend indoor masking for vaccinated individuals in some circumstances. Not where I'd like to see him - but better than a week ago.

I seriously don't understand why they are so slow to recommend mitigation measures, so quick to remove them, and then so cautious to say, "oops, we moved too fast."

[Raine]

68. In Los Angeles County we're still supposed to wear masks. 🤔 nt

[GReedDiamond]

91. Lately, I have seen many unmasked people in...

...the local Stater Bros, Home Depot and Whole Foods.

I'm in Pasadena.

But, yeah, although fully vaxed for over three months, I still wear the mask.

A week or so ago, we went to a restaurant for the first time in over 15 months, but we had an outdoor table - the next outdoor table was at least 12 feet away from our table, so masking was not an issue.

[Skittles]

71. I tried to be brave and ventured into the crowd without my mask on

that is NOT bravery

[Dial H For Hero]

78. I stopped masking the moment policies changed. While it doesn't bother me in the slightest, your

situation appears quite the opposite. A couple of thoughts:

1) To begin with, don't let anyone try to push you into not masking if you wish to. It's your decision, and none of their business.

2) If you are ready to try unmasking, perhaps you could try not wearing it in an uncrowded environment for a short time, say, when grocery shopping late at night. Be sure to have it with you, though, so you don't have to suddenly leave if you become uncomfortable.

Good luck, I hope things work out.

[onetexan]

79. Completely empathize with you, as i'm going thru the same anxiety right now. 2 of our young adult

kids came down with covid & one ended up in the hospital for a few days. I'm not as paranoid as i used to be until we all got vaccinated, but still feel anxious & a bit nervous about the variants so i still wear my mask when in public.

[Tink41]

88. Ive relaxed a bit.

Not masking around vaccinated family, I am masking at any indoor establishment, I did not mask outdoor dining weekday lunch maybe 5 occupied tables. Im not sure when or if I can return to any large gathering, inside or out. I learned far more about society than I wanted to know and it has been traumatizing. I shudder thinking about minimum wage workers having to police their workplaces from idiots. At people having to decide between going to work knowing proper practices not enforced, or protecting themselves. In my line of work they were shutting jobs down because someone was sick, positive and sending the rest of the workers to other jobs til that one opened again.

[FirstLight]

98. I started RE-masking recently at indoor stores etc...

Children arent vaxed yet, they are walking infestations of everything ( I worked with kids, I know)

The more I hear of varients and the fact that statistically, only about 50% of ppl are vaxed in any given place and acting like they ARE...I dont trust anyone.


I work in a resort now, and though we've been granted the ability to remove during shift, I still keep mine on my wrist and will mask of someone else is, or ask other if they want me to.

Think I'll be avoiding further social interactions or crowds for a lot longer after my experience last night at the first outdoor concert in over a year... (https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215603552#post2)