Things are looking up in our city.  Covid-19 cases keep going down, and vaccination rate is very high.  About  50% of people over 65 have received 2 shots.  So naturally, we’re feeling more relaxed when out in public.  What I’ve noticed the past couple of weeks is that  while most everyone is still wearing their masks, they’re letting them slip down below their nose.  Is wearing your mask at half mast OK?

I can definitely see the point.  Wearing a mask that covers  all your breathing apparatus is a sweaty experience.  By the time you’ve spent some time at a supermarket, your  face is wet when you finally get back to your car.  But scientists warn us that it’s no use wearing a mask that doesn’t cover your nose, because you’re still breathing in all the polluted air around you.  Also, contrary to common belief, you can still blow polluted air out your nose and infect others if you’re carrying the virus.

Unfortunately, there have been several cases of people coming down with the virus, even though they’re fully vaccinated.  I read that a psychologist caught it from one of his patients and died.  I suppose that’s possible in a crowded room where you can actually smell the other person’s breath.  Same thing if you’re on an airplane where you’ll be in close contact for a long time.

I would feel more comfortable wearing no mask at all as opposed to one under my nose. It wouldn’t look half as silly. But I have the feeling masks are going to be in style long after we’ve reached herd immunity.  Especially in the winter months, it would make sense to protect yourself from all the cold and flu viruses floating in the air.   But it won’t do any good to wear your mask at half mast.