This past week, Director Rochelle Walensky of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CSC) announced the CDC ‘s recommendation that anyone who is fully vaccinated can participate in indoor or outdoor activities, large or small, without wearing a mask or physical distancing. Subsequently, President Biden reiterated the CDC’s recommendation in a press conference, suggesting that if Americans wanted to get rid of their masks, they should get vaccinated. However, as in everything about COVID-19, there is again confusion as to what this actually means. As it pertains to states and municipalities, there are those that had already lifted masking restrictions and those that indicated they will continue the restrictions for the time being. Labour groups and others warned that employees at stores, restaurants, bars and other businesses could be left exposed to the coronavirus from customers and could be forced into the unwanted role of “vaccination police.” Who will have to police the need for a mask and how will one prove that one has received sufficient doses of a vaccine to be fully immunized?
In Canada, there continues to be a reluctance to remove masking requirements, particularly indoors, because of the existence of remaining hot spots and high case rates in some regions. This is despite the fact that almost half the population has received their first vaccine shot. Except for a very few anti-mask groups, Canadians appear to be more willing to maintain the course. As with the general approach to the pandemic, Canadians have been supportive of lockdowns and other preventive measures. Unlike Americans, Canadians did not portray masking as a political issue, a perception propagated by several prominent American leaders including former President Donald Trump. One has to ask how individual liberties take precedent over the health and safety of the community at large and the impact on front-line workers? With close to 600,000 COVID-related deaths in the U.S. to date, Americans and their leaders appear to have already answered this question. Indeed, several mask supporters were voted out of office in a number of jurisdictions and threats were made against politicians and officials in other places over restrictions.
The experts have made it clear all along, whether vaccinated fully or not, wearing masks helps to control the spread of the virus within the community. The CDC’s declaration is seen by many as being to soon and too fast given that the number of cases in certain states and localities remains high. It appears that the agency’s approach has quickly gone from one extreme to another. Add to this the fact that the agency still recommends fully vaccinated people wear masks on planes, buses, trains and other forms of public transportation, as well as in health care settings, correctional facilities, homeless shelters, and where required by state and local governments, or businesses. No wonder Americans are confused once again!
As far as I’m concerned, even with having been vaccinated, I will continue to wear a mask as long as it is deemed appropriate, especially in indoor public spaces. I believe that most Canadians feel the same way. It’s the least selfish thing that one can do under the circumstances.
FROLITICKS 
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