Biden Tweet

[BonnieDundee]

Folks, if you’re fully vaccinated — you no longer need to wear a mask.

If you’re not vaccinated yet — go to t.co/4MYpWqXVVo to find a shot, and mask up until you’re fully vaccinated. t.co/qcyG2WyCG2

I hope the UK doesn't go the same way

Yes it's interesting how they've managed to open it up to all over 18s, ages ago (and soon to be younger). Either it's a lot more supply, a lot more places available to do it, a lot more hesitancy and/or barriers to certain populations getting jabbed that means they can allow anyone who wants it to book now. I know lots of people in 20s and 30s who were fully vaccinated several weeks ago. I guess the fact that it's not centralised and doesn't have the same sort of admin/record keeping might help in some ways.

But given that it's nominally available to everyone (I don't know whether there are practical/cost/other reasons stopping some people besides not wanting it), then having some different restrictions available for those who have or haven't been vaccinated doesn't seem as bad. I still wouldn't want full-on vaccine passports, though, but something like ability to take masks off, when it's never been compulsory, is OK as guidance.

Can’t you basically sit outside all year round? Have windows open? Etc.

Have you ever been to Florida in August?

This is purely anecdotal, but lots of people are still wearing masks indoors in public places where I live in Florida. I don't know how that might change with the new, less restrictive, guidance about masks. I plan to continue to wear one for now.

And why is our death count so high considering we've been wearing them since last summer?

Having recently done some traveling it is obvious that some parts of the USA have done more mask wearing than others.

There have also been the impact of long term co-morbidities born out of structural poverty. Also the impact of high density living arrangements in some communities.

Mask wearing was to slow the spread it was never going to stop the thread.
The need for medical safety had to be balanced with economics and with mental health considerations.
There hasn't been in any country one easy fail safe answer.