Spring may come early this year as the announcement of the Centers for Disease Control last week felt like a fresh breath of air. The much-awaited announcement stated that mask wearing could be relaxed indoors for people that are fully immunized. Most of the United States government buildings have withdrawn the requirement of wearing masks indoors and all federal buildings can now be accessed without a mask.
As the temperatures continue to warm up, everyone cannot wait to be outdoors. The chirping birds are a pleasant reminder that spring is around the corner. However, as everyone eases back into pre-Covid normal life, many are still nervous about letting go of their masks, especially parents of young toddlers and children who are still waiting for their Covid-19 vaccination.
The announcement of the Centers for Disease Control regarding the end of indoor mask wearing, did however advise people who are immunocompromised, suffering from a chronic medical condition, or have children that are not fully vaccinated, to still exercise caution. They should continue to wear masks when in closed spaces or in big crowds. For now, those opting to not wear masks must avoid the following 3Cs, which have been tested out in Japan and demonstrate low Coronavirus infection rates:
- Crowds: – Avoid being unmasked when hanging out with huge crowds, as seen in concerts, games, or live shows. The bigger the crowd the greater the chance that there may be a large number of people that are still not fully vaccinated and could easily transmit the Coronavirus through droplet infection. Be smart and wear a mask that completely covers your nose and mouth while out having fun with friends in such settings, even if fully vaccinated.
- Close contact:- Any time you know you will be having close contact with people that may not be full vaccinated or have young children waiting for their shots, it is best to wear a mask around them.
- Closed space:- In closed spaces such as an elevator or an airplane, masks come in handy, keeping one protected while breathing air shared with others in tight, closed spaces.
As the mask requirement has been eased off in many states, in government as well as private sectors, the decision now lies with the people to wear or not to wear a mask. It is true that everyone wants to put the Covid-19 life behind them and move ahead to a normal, restriction-free life, at the earliest possible.
This could be a turning point for Covid-19 as we ease into a less restrictive but still cautious lifestyle and avoid yet another wave of an old or new variant of Coronavirus. We need to be aware of the 950,000 precious lives that have been lost in the United States alone in the last two years.
Keeping in mind the 3C’s above could be the key to avoiding yet another wave of Covid-19!