I fully support easing / lifting the Mask Mandate in the State of Illinois. After 24 months of respectful masking within indoor venues, I think Illinoisans understand the importance of masking and how to mask correctly. Illinois’ COVID infection rates are improving due to safe and effective vaccinations and commitments to public health safety.
However, folks are very hedonistic, self-centered and endocentric. Folks have been placing excessive pressure on public officials for a return to “normal” even though the pandemic continues. Gov. Pritzker, the Illinois Department of Public Health, Chicago Mayor Lightfoot and the Chicago Department of Health have been outstanding in promoting vaccinations, therefore I think it is time to pull back a bit on masking. However, my position does NOT apply to K-12 schools, healthcare facilities, air travel, mass transportation and communal living.
My Plan
I am going to continue to KN95 mask in public venues with no plans to discontinue. Here’s why:
- The COVID pandemic continues.
- The coronavirus continues to evolve into deadly mutant variants. By the time a new variant is identified in a foreign country, it will already be at Stateside.
- There are too many anti-vaxxers and anti-mask folks, so resistance of achieving herd immunity is extensive.
- People are too hedonistic and annoyed with masks, so infected people will spread new and evolving mutant variants easily within indoor venues.
Never “Agains” for Me!
I probably will never enter the following indoor venues ever again:
- Fitness centers
- Movie theaters
- Seminar dinner events
Planet Janet 