My post yesterday didn’t go up when it was scheduled to. That really bothered me. I spent some time trying to get that done on Monday night so I could schedule it to go up while I was sleeping, but when I woke up it wasn’t up. And when checked what had happened it just said “Missed Schedule.” Boo!
Not really a thing, but I’m annoyed none the less. (And kind of funny since my whole post was about missing consistent sleep schedules. Was WordPress poking fun at me?)
I realized yesterday morning, after I dealt with the “Missed Schedule” that I never thanked you all for your respectful, thoughtful, and insightful and comments on my last masking post. I REALLY appreciated that comment section, and the fact that it never devolved into a, “well that person is…” back and forth, but instead remained a productive discussion on how different people in different areas are navigating this part of the pandemic. You all absolutely renewed my faith in putting up messy thoughts about messy topics and getting empathy, understanding and guidance in return. It can be done! You all are amazing! I am humbled that so many smart, articulate people choose to read my words and respond to them.
In that comment Aunt V asked me if I thought people who hadn’t been wearing masks in areas where mask mandates had lapsed long ago were selfish. I admitted that I wasn’t sure. I know for a fact the person whose post inspired mine does, because she thinks people in my area who have stopped wearing masks only recently are selfish, so surely those people who stopped a months ago are too.
{That was, of course, the purpose of Aunt V’s question. If I thought people who had already stopped wearing masks in areas where it wasn’t expected were selfish, it would make sense to think the people in my area (including me) were selfish for doing so now. If I didn’t, then I could extend myself that same courtesy. Well played Aunt V.}
I will admit that people in my area get a lot of messaging, both explicit and implicit, about the importance of mask wearing, and that comes with some (explicit and implicit) judgement towards areas where people don’t wear masks. (This is part of why people in this area are struggling with what to do now that masks aren’t required! – The judgement, and feelings of superiority, were really real!) But the judgement is more toward the messaging, not the people following the messaging. At least that is how I perceive it. I don’t personally judge people for doing what everyone around them does, especially when their communities are lacking any kind of coherent public health response that suggests a different course of action.
That is to say, I judge the messenger and the message, and not those that adhere to the message. That is part of why I’m so confused by what steps to take next, because I don’t necessarily trust the messengers and the messages they are sending are confusing and sometimes contradictory. So I guess the answer is no, I don’t think the people who are taking off their masks now because they’ve been told they can do so are selfish. Which means I don’t think I, myself, am selfish. Hooray?
I’m sorry if that seems like a cop out of a response, but it’s the best I’ve got.
Yesterday the kids and I went to the Academy of Sciences. My son was given a free family day pass when his class visited and he was eager for us to use it. I haven’t been since well before the pandemic. I used to get a teacher pass but once my kids got so old that I couldn’t get them both in on it we stopped going. It’s evidently over $100 for the three of us to spend a day there! I was so thankful for the family pass we were given. We had a really nice time.
While we were there my daughter started complaining of a sore throat. I was very thankful that I had her in one of our best kn95 masks, and that the Academy requires everyone to wear a mask, even though guests 12 and older need to also be vaccinated.
We have quite a few rapid tests at home but since we’re spending a couple nights at my parents’ house I decided I should get my daughter a PCR test. I was surprised by how many were available at Kaiser. When we got there, nobody was in the drive up test area. It was so deserted I assumed they had moved it. But while I searched for the confirmation email to see if it listed a new location, a woman walked out to greet us. I was in the right spot, there was just no one getting tested.
The last time I tried to get PCR tests for my family it was quite hard. Now I guess it’s super easy because no one is getting these tests anymore. I guess everyone really is relying on rapid antigen tests at home. If I weren’t going to see my parents I would have done the same. No wonder officials suspect the vast majority of cases are not being counted.
At home my daughter’s rapid antigen test came back negative, but it was clear she has some kind of bug. I called the friends she saw yesterday to let them know. One of them had something last week and another friend has something this week. A virus is definitely going around. We’ll see if my son and I get it. I really hope my husband doesn’t as he has to travel today.
Luckily we only had a couple of plans with friends for today and they were easy to cancel. My son and I are supposed to go to martial arts tonight, and if we both feel fine we’ll go, but keep on our masks, just in case we end up feeling sick later. I really appreciate it being socially acceptable to wear a mask in situations where one just wants to be cautious about possibly passing on an illness, even if it’s not Covid. I know that in many countries wearing a mask in public spaces was always accepted, and even expected when people are feeling ill. I hope we can maintain that custom, though I highly doubt it. We just aren’t that considerate here I guess.
Kaiser let us all get tested yesterday, even though only my daughter had an appointment. I will appreciate the confidence that comes from PCR tests when we stay with my parents (as expected, they have indicated they want us to come, despite my daughter’s cold, which is why I got the PCR tests). I hope PCR tests don’t become impossible to get as pandemic funding evaporates. We have a long way before we cross the finish line, and we need all the tools to get there. It’s frustrating that the federal government refuses to recognize that.
Let’s see if this post goes up as scheduled. Come on WordPress! You can do it!
For the longest time rapid tests were impossible to find and now I have SO many (the kids both get them regularly sent home from school + our public library gives them out).
Although mask mandates were just lifted here over a week ago, I would say 80% of people are still wearing masks? And schools are all still masked + the university where I work made them mandatory until the end of April. So we’re technically allowed to go without a mask, but almost no one is…and then certain places are having a separate policy from the government mandate.
Ugh. I’ve had a few scheduled posts that haven’t worked and it is so annoying (especially if you worked hard to get it ready so that it could go live BEFORE you wake up). So I definitely can appreciate the frustration 🙂
Yes! Rapid tests were so hard to get for so long and now we have a bunch too. I just realized they all these orange boxes the kids have been sent home with have two tests and not just one like I thought, so we have even more than I realized. There is a giant crate of them at Costco now too… before you had to stake out a Walgreens and beg the guy to let you get more than one. Times have changed.
A lot of people here are still wearing masks in public. Probably 75-80%. And some places still require them, like a local book store I was in earlier this week. When we get back from spring break the elementary schools won’t be requiring masks anymore (probably the worst week to drop that mandate). We’ll see how that goes…
Watch the expiration dates on the RAT’s …. do not rely on ‘when you got them’ as some are closer to expired than others.
Hope it works to see your parents.
Because more are using RAT not PCR the county reported case rates are deceptivly low. B. Watcher Chief of Medicine UCSF says: “asymptomatic test pos. rate (R), which dropped to ~1% few wks ago, now up to 1.6%. Small bump but likely meaningful.” UCSF tests all admissions( including for outpatient procedures) so they get an overview of what the community rates are; meaning he thinks a bump up in case rates is happening in SF. It clearly isn’t a huge wave right now! He is off the fence about second boosters for the over 50 population this week; in favor of avoiding long covid and diabetes. (His job exposes him to information about post covid problems.) “…seems like easy call for older/hi-risk folks, more of a toss-up for lower-risk. But even in latter, I see benefits marginally outweighing (tiny) risks.” He is also saying now is time to do things you haven’t been doing, wear a mask around others if in large numbers or if any doubt about how healthy other people are. Good masks worn correctly work.
Wastewater evidence where I am supports that BA.2 is probably VERY much present already and will spread with the seasonal vacationers. Be aware and thoughtful.