Indoor masking in public places

Jul 14, 2021
Jul 14, 2021 Updated Apr 13, 2025
3

Editor,

Should San Mateo County residents, particularly seniors and those with underlying medical conditions, consider the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health’s recommendation on indoor masking issued on June 28?

(3) comments

HFAB Jul 14, 2021 9:16am

Especially. This person is continuing to wear a mask! The differences in advisories are going to cause major consequences.

Irvin D. Jul 14, 2021 11:35am

Thanks for your positive comment.

I sort of regret how I ended my letter. The focus should not be on personal health but public health. While we know vaccines reduce viral intake, meaning transmission is greatly reduced, it is still unknown to what degree that asymptomatic, fully vaccinated people can transmit the virus, presenting a threat to unvaccinated adults and children and vaccinated but immunocompromised adults.

The main reason to mask indoors in public places is to reduce transmission as well as protecting one's own health.

On a side note, I've come to have much respect for WHO. I believe their guidance to be superior to that of the CDC, particularly after their May 13 masking guidance (see my post on Planetizen: "Will CDC's Revised Guidance for Fully Vaccinated People Prolong the Pandemic?"

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2021/05/113338-will-cdcs-revised-guidance-fully-vaccinated-people-prolong-pandemic

BenToy Jul 14, 2021 12:03pm

I'll continue to wear a mask (except outside with few people around) and try to not enter enclosed areas with a crowd.

Am in the high risk categories and have had 2 Pfizer shots...but the efficacy is NOT like most others. They would have the 95-97, but with my immunotherapy IV...my number is down.

UCSF won't provide a definitive number, as they don't know. Guessing in the 70 to maybe 50 range

With the Delta ravaging the world and reports of breakthrough infections to those who are 'healthy'...leaves to continue wearing a mask and avoiding crowds.

We are lucky that our leaders in the State and locally, dealt with Covid-19 early and maintained a high level

News has reported so many that let their guard down and reopened too early. Only to have infection/death rates raise.

Pet peeve on this topic...the virus didn't come over via the air currents, but via PEOPLE traveling to areas with high infection rates

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