I have quite a few e-mails today from folks telling me…
- That everyone in their area wears masks in public places or…
- That no one in their area wears masks in public places or (mostly)…
- That some people in their area wear masks in public places and others don't.
I think it's safe to say that it varies from place to place just as the density of COVID cases varies from place to place. There are probably other variables including age and what kind of public place we're talking about. Anyway, I don't need any more messages telling me how it is in your neck of the woods, thank you.
A couple of folks asked me, "How will you decide it's safe to stop wearing masks at all?" Easy answer: When my doctor tells me it is.
I've said this before and I don't know why it's controversial for some people. I think it helps in this world to have a good doctor…someone you trust. I listen to mine when he tells me to increase this vitamin or stop taking that medication. Why shouldn't I listen to him when he tells me to get a booster shot or wear a mask?
He's not infallible but it's been my experience that medical advice that comes from a real doctor — someone who has earned your respect, not just someone with a diploma on the wall — is right at least 85% of the time. By contrast — and again, this is just my experience; yours may vary — medical advice from non-doctors who think they know about medicine is right less than 25%. I actually/truly/literally believe that certain people I've known have died from following bad layperson advice.
Yes, I know a great doctor is not always easy to find, especially when decent health insurance is sometimes outta reach. I think it's worth the effort to find someone you can trust and even if you can't, don't trust someone who studied medicine at YouTube University or who says, "I read somewhere on the Internet…" Somewhere on the Internet, there are people who will insist that at this very minute, they're playing Pinochle with Elvis, J.F.K. and Andy Kaufman. And Andy's winning.