Los Angeles is close to returning to “normal.”
Surely there will be some differences between normal in 2021 and normal pre-covid.
One big difference is probably going to be the presence of masks.
The CDC’s newest mask guidance seemed to indicate that masks won’t be as common as they have been.
However, that might not be the case as initially thought. Many people will continue to mask, even after vaccination.
No Shame in Masking
The CDC still wants unvaccinated people to wear masks. But, they aren’t necessarily opposed to vaccinated people masking longer either, even if it’s not necessary.
The CDC made it clear that you don’t need to live in fear of covid if you are vaccinated. However, they don't want to pressure people into taking off their masks.
The CDC director Rochelle Walensky had this to say.
“If you are vaccinated, there is no shame, no problem in continuing to wear your mask.”-Rochelle Walensky
She went on to make some interesting comments about not pressuring people into unmasking. She seems to feel like pressuring people to unmask is not effective.
That’s a strange position from the organization that has been pressuring people to mask for over a year.
Reasons People Keep Masking
Despite new CDC guidance, you still see many people wearing masks outside or when they are alone.
There are many different reasons why some people around Los Angeles will keep masking.
1. Habit
Masking has become a habit for many people in the last year.
Habits are hard to break.
2. Risk Averse
Some people are incredibly risk-averse. New guidelines mean nothing to people like that.
It’s no different than people who are afraid to fly but perfectly happy to ride in a car. Risk tolerance is not a rational thing.
3. Lack of Trust
Many vaccinated people won’t unmask due to a lack of trust.
Some don’t trust unvaccinated people to continue masking.
Some don't trust the CDC or our politicians.
Remember, the government has been fear-mongering about Covid for over a year. They encouraged people to live in fear. They even inspired fear of surfaces and outdoor activities, which are extremely low risk.
It’s natural for the people who bought into that fear not to be ready to unmask.
What Does This Mean for Los Angeles?
Los Angeles is close to getting rid of the complicated Tier system.
California as a whole is getting rid of most Covid regulations on June 15th. Businesses will be allowed to return to normal operations with no capacity limits.
The State will also follow the CDC mask guidelines. That means no mask requirements for vaccinated people.
What is a “Mega Event?”
The one exception will be for “mega-events.”
Indoor gatherings of more than 5,000 people, for example, a basketball game, will require vaccine verification or a negative test.
However, according to public officials, vaccine verification will be through “self-attestation.” In other words, many people will lie.
The vaccine verification (or negative test) is recommended but not required for outdoor events of more than 10,000 people.
My Thoughts
Los Angeles Covid rules will be completely gone soon.
I know there will technically be a couple of rules, but they are a joke. Simply asking someone if they are vaccinated isn't a rule unless you ask for proof. Neither is requiring masks for unvaccinated people without asking for evidence.
While Los Angeles will be back to normal restrictions-wise, there will still be more people wearing masks than necessary.
Some people need more time to adjust, and that is fine. Be nice to people regardless of how they feel about Covid.