It's OK to go without a mask indoors, or outdoors, if you have been vaccinated against Covid-19, the CDC says

[HamOp]

https://www.cnn.com/2021/05/13/health/cdc-mask-guidance-vaccinated/index.html

 

Wonder how this will play out with the cruise lines?

 

But wait, there's more!

 

https://www.foxnews.com/travel/cdc-eases-mask-requirements-for-fully-vaccinated-cruise-passengers

 

CDC eases mask requirements for fully vaccinated cruise passengers

Edited May 13, 2021 by HamOp
Added Info

[mamaofami]

I listened to the news conference and now wonder, when customers are eating inside or outside, will the servers be wearing masks? And what about inside offices where some have been vaccinated and some not? There is still some confusion and questions that were asked and went unanswered. 
 

Part of me wonders if this sudden change is to influence more people to get vaccinated and maybe also a political thing since so many states have made their own rules.

[Sir PMP]

It will all go back to normal here soon, but overseas?

[LAFFNVEGAS]

The BIG Question is how many will just say they are vaccinated and not be. This will not convince more people to be vaccinated. This whole thing is going to back fire in my opinion.

[HamOp]

21 minutes ago, LAFFNVEGAS said:

The BIG Question is how many will just say they are vaccinated and not be. This will not convince more people to be vaccinated. This whole thing is going to back fire in my opinion.

I think at this point it's a case of "let the chips fall where they may".

Those of us who are vaccinated are protected, and those who have chosen to not get the vaccine know the risk and are willing to accept it. 

So if someone has not received the shots but decides to say they did, well, oh well.

[Turtles06]

2 minutes ago, HamOp said:

Those of us who are vaccinated are protected, and those who have chosen to not get the vaccine know the risk and are willing to accept it. 

 

Not only are you assuming too much intelligence on the part of some of those who refuse to get vaccinated ("they know the risk"), but the harm they are doing by not getting vaccinated unfortunately is not confined to them -- it makes herd immunity harder to achieve, and can open the door to more variants, some of which may evade the current vaccines.     

[cwn]

43 minutes ago, HamOp said:

I think at this point it's a case of "let the chips fall where they may".

Those of us who are vaccinated are protected, and those who have chosen to not get the vaccine know the risk and are willing to accept it. 

So if someone has not received the shots but decides to say they did, well, oh well.

 

Totally agree. There is not going to ever be herd immunity for Covid and related illnesses. We will have to live with Covid just like we do the cold, flu or even the likes of Nono virus . Unlike the smallpox vaccine which was required by the gov for everyone 50 years ago, for many reasons the gov can’t / won’t require this vaccine. Most of my family has received their shots. Those of us that have don’t want to have that worry and are enjoying our freedom. Others don’t feel like there is much concern because age, health etc. They have their own reasons. Each person has to make a choice and live with the outcome.

All I know for sure is our state has been mask free for about 2 months and our city school for several weeks. we have not worn one for two months to eat out, go to church or travel out of state by car. The only people who are getting sick here, recently, are unvaccinated people in their 20-50s and some of them are getting really sick. They made their choice. The vaccine has been available to all ages for about at least 6 weeks here. 

Edited May 13, 2021 by cwn

[POA1]

MIT Technology Review has a good article on the Covid-19 variants.  It's from today, so it's fresh info.

 

Five reasons why you don’t need to panic about coronavirus variants

The hype around “scariants” is overblown. But we also shouldn’t be too complacent.

 

https://www.technologyreview.com/2021/05/13/1024850/dont-panic-coronavirus-variants/

[ChutChut]

1 hour ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Not only are you assuming too much intelligence on the part of some of those who refuse to get vaccinated ("they know the risk"), but the harm they are doing by not getting vaccinated unfortunately is not confined to them -- it makes herd immunity harder to achieve, and can open the door to more variants, some of which may evade the current vaccines.     

I'm vaccinated but it's the individual's private medical decision whether to get a flu, covid, etc. vaccine. It's no one else's business. Just as it's none of our business whether any passengers are HIV positive, etc.

[DFD1]

As one fully vaccinated, I am delighted with today's CDC announcement.  We had stopped doing any number of things in our everyday lives that we are looking forward to doing again now.

 

Those who decide not to be vaccinated do so at their own peril.

[ShipWalker]

I paid a good $15 for my designer mask and have no intention to stop wearing it until I wear it out like I do with all of my other clothing.

[TriumphGuy]

So, how can the CDC mandate masking protocols on cruise ships when it has now eliminated indoor mask requirements? Are we looking at a significant change in policy over the next few days regarding cruising?

I'm more confused than ever.

[CruiserBruce]

25 minutes ago, TriumphGuy said:

So, how can the CDC mandate masking protocols on cruise ships when it has now eliminated indoor mask requirements? Are we looking at a significant change in policy over the next few days regarding cruising?

I'm more confused than ever.

Quite likely, yes. But notice the mention that prisons still require masks. The CDC uses a category called "congregate housing" or something like that, which can apply to both cruise ships and prisons.

 

But I expect the cruising side to come into alignment with the no mask recommendations for cruising very soon.

[SumoCitrus]

4 hours ago, Turtles06 said:

 

Not only are you assuming too much intelligence on the part of some of those who refuse to get vaccinated ("they know the risk"), but the harm they are doing by not getting vaccinated unfortunately is not confined to them -- it makes herd immunity harder to achieve, and can open the door to more variants, some of which may evade the current vaccines.     

 

Maybe so, but what can be done about it? The vaccines can't be forced on people.

[cruisegirl]

3 hours ago, TriumphGuy said:

So, how can the CDC mandate masking protocols on cruise ships when it has now eliminated indoor mask requirements? Are we looking at a significant change in policy over the next few days regarding cruising?

I'm more confused than ever.

I think there will be a change but how far it might go remains to be seen. 

[LAFFNVEGAS]

I had a bit of change of my mind last night when some new information came to light. Here in Las Vegas many of the casinos were giving incentives for employees to get vaccinated, For the month of May casino capacity was limited to 80% unless the casino could get employees fully vaccinated to 80% then once that hit 80% they could go to 100%+ occupancy. Many casinos have reached the 100%.

With the new remove mask if you are vaccinated the casinos and many employers are stating that with proof the employees are vaccinated they now can work without masks but those that cannot prove being fully vaccinated they must continue to be masked.

Many of the places hiring are requiring proof of vaccination. Maybe the CDC did know what they were doing after all. This will basically shame those not vaccinated to get vaccinated which will bring those percentages up.

If this happens I say "Well Played CDC"

[terrydtx]

On 5/13/2021 at 4:22 PM, LAFFNVEGAS said:

The BIG Question is how many will just say they are vaccinated and not be. This will not convince more people to be vaccinated. This whole thing is going to back fire in my opinion.

The CDC vaccination card forging business just got a big boost.

[Laminator]

I think the govt just threw their hands up in the air. They have pretty much done all they can do. It is becoming more apparent everyday that the vaccine is effective. Those who are vaccinated and catch the virus experience slight symptoms or no symptoms at all. Those who do not get vaccinated and catch the vaccine well that will be on them. I only will feel sorry for those who for medical reasons can not receive the vaccine. 

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, Laminator said:

Those who are vaccinated and catch the virus experience slight symptoms or no symptoms at all.

A fully vaccinated friend tested positive for the virus and had no symptoms other than what he thought was his seasonal allergies. He only got tested so that he could go back to his office in his state.

[Aquahound]

26 minutes ago, terrydtx said:

A fully vaccinated friend tested positive for the virus and had no symptoms other than what he thought was his seasonal allergies. He only got tested so that he could go back to his office in his state.

 

I and my coworkers have been fully vaccinated since January.  I've had a few friends/coworkers test positive since then and none of them had any symptoms.  They only tested because of exposure to family members who were positive.  

[KirkNC]

Despite both the CDC and Governor of NC removing the mask mandate, every store we visited today still required mask on entry. 

[terrydtx]

3 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

Despite both the CDC and Governor of NC removing the mask mandate, every store we visited today still required mask on entry. 

Did they actually enforce the masking or just have a sign on the entry that said they were required? Many stores here in Texas still have those mask required signs on the entry but they do not enforce them.  I have not worn a mask anywhere for weeks, and nobody has challenged me on it at any business. Texas has had no mask mandate since mid March.

[KirkNC]

1 minute ago, terrydtx said:

Did they actually enforce the masking or just have a sign on the entry that said they were required? Many stores here in Texas still have those mask required signs on the entry but they do not enforce them.  I have not worn a mask anywhere for weeks, and nobody has challenged me on it at any business. Texas has had no mask mandate since mid March.

No here we respect the right of a business to set their  rules so everyone was complying.  If I did not want to wear the mask, I would not go in.

[terrydtx]

10 minutes ago, KirkNC said:

No here we respect the right of a business to set their  rules so everyone was complying.  If I did not want to wear the mask, I would not go in.

Wait a couple of weeks and see how many are complying with wearing a mask. It took a couple of weeks before most here in Texas did the same after the state mask mandate ended in mid March. Now two months later only a handful of local business other than medical facilities have a Mask Required sign on the entry doors and their number are going down every day. Local Walmart's reported today that they will no longer require masks.  I would also  estimate that only about 50% or less still wear a mask indoors and less than 10% outdoors.  It takes a while to ditch the mask habit after a year of being required. 

Edited May 15, 2021 by terrydtx

[bcummin]

People are still wearing masks in our Washington state community.

Barbara