May 20, 2021
By John Mulvaney
Staff Writer
Masks have become a significant part of people’s daily lives ever since the Covid-19 pandemic started. Combined with social distancing and good hygiene, they have proven to be the best way to stop the virus. But recently, people have started to feel more comfortable going around maskless, and that’s not good.
It is important to remember that more than half the country is still not vaccinated. As of May 16, 47.4% of Americans had received at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine and 27.1% were fully vaccinated. While the number of vaccines administered continues to rise, the majority of Americans are not vaccinated, and when in public, it’s hard to tell who’s vaccinated and who isn’t.
Since so many people have been vaccinated recently, some believe wearing masks should be a thing of the past. While it is true that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put out a statement that people who are fully vaccinated do not have to wear masks, it’s still important to do so, and here’s why:
A reason more people aren’t vaccinated is that people who were 16 and under had not been allowed to get the vaccine. It was only on May 10 that the Pfizer vaccine was approved for use among children 12-15 years old. Pfizer still must complete a study of the vaccine on children six months to 11 years old. The company expects it will seek emergency use authorization in September for use of the vaccine among children in this age group. Therefore, kids are still in danger of catching and spreading Covid-19, so wearing a mask helps protect them from contracting this deadly virus.
State mandates are another factor to consider. New Jersey still requires face coverings to be worn in most indoor public settings. An interesting trend to note is that northeastern and western states were more likely to have mask mandates during the pandemic compared to southern and midwestern states.
It’s especially important to continue wearing a mask if you are still awaiting your second shot. Getting one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine doesn’t mean you’re fully protected. It is just the first step to building immunity.
California and Illinois are planning to fully reopen within the next month, and some states including New Jersey and New York have no criteria set for a full reopening. The more people adhere to their state laws by wearing their masks, the sooner things will get back to the way they were before the pandemic.
Even if you are vaccinated, wearing a mask sets a good example for others, and people you talk to on a daily basis might pick up your habits as well. It’s especially important to continue wearing a mask if you are still awaiting your second shot. Getting one dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine doesn’t mean you’re fully protected. It is just the first step to building immunity.
Mask wearing has led to other positive consequences such as a decline in flu cases, according to the CDC. In fact, the most recent flu season was almost non-existent. To put it into perspective, the CDC recorded about 2,000 cases since late September. In recent years, the average number of cases over the same time period was around 206,000.
If masks start coming off now, there is still a chance another outbreak will occur. We haven’t even hit the halfway point in getting the entire nation vaccinated. To truly be safe from Covid-19, masks have to be worn until everyone, or at least a majority of the country’s population, is fully vaccinated.
Masks may be annoying at times, but they are the most effective way to stop the spread of Covid-19, and if we all continue wearing our masks now, by summer, we might not even have to wear them at all. So, make the right decisions now, and we’ll all be back to the beaches—and back to normal—in no time.
