#tbh I had to hear Dr Abdul Al Sayed lay out this framework multiple times before I was able to internalize it

[sarahsupastar]

We need to stop viewing masking as something we're either completely done with or never should've stopped doing.

COVID comes in surges. Sometimes it's safe to go without a mask. Other times it isn't.

It may feel counterintuitive, but treating masking as all-or-nothing in perpetuity actually makes it harder to get people to wear masks when they really need to. People who hate wearing a mask feel like they keep being told they're finally free from it, only to have that promise revoked. And people in favor of masking until COVID is completely gone feel like the inconsistent guidelines mean their health and safety isn't being taken seriously. Which results in everyone feeling like the guidelines aren't reliable - which is the worst possible outcome for essential public health guidelines.

By all means, be skeptical of when and why masking guidelines change. And if you feel like you need to wear a mask, then you absolutely should, regardless of whether it's required. But try to think of masks like sunscreen: wearing it is never a bad idea, but there are some times/contexts when it's really important to put on, and others when skipping it won't harm you.

wow almost like everyone saw this coming and it was grossly irresponsible to get rid of the recommendation in the first place