Face masks are available in many colours and styles and it seems getting vaccinated could make them passe
It looks like masks are coming off and I am all for it.
In a watershed moment in the pandemic on Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advised that Americans who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus may stop wearing masks or maintaining social distance in most indoor and outdoor settings, regardless of size.
However, Guyana is still some distance from following in America’s footsteps because the numbers of deaths and infections are continuing to climb as some folks behave irresponsibly and baulk at getting inoculated. Perhaps this announcement will help those who are still wavering to decide. Allowing persons who are fully vaccinated to go mask-free indoors may help persuade others to take the free jab.
While the announcement did come with caveats: vaccinated individuals still must wear face coverings at doctors’ offices, hospitals, nursing homes and while using public transportation, it mentioned nothing about gyms.
That is a welcome sign for gym goers and athletes who struggle to workout with masks. On May 27, I will be fully inoculated and I simply cannot wait for the day to greet my gym buddies with a smile that isn’t covered with a mask.
Let me make it clear as I have said before, I have no problem wearing a mask, social distancing or observing any measures to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. However, during high intensity exercises at the gym, it is quite annoying that I am policed to always have the mask on above my nose. I simply cannot wait to lift and sweat again without the uncomfortable restriction of a mask.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the Biden administration’s senior adviser on the pandemic, said in an interview, “Pulling back restrictions on indoor masks is an important step in the right direction. We’ve got to liberalize the restrictions so people can feel like they’re getting back to some normalcy.”
We should all want to return to normalcy. I urge all readers to play their part in ending the pandemic which has claimed in excess of three million lives worldwide and more than 300 locally. Get vaccinated.
