[conductr]

I find people taking this strategy interesting, especially as we approach the 3 year mark. Do you plan on doing this forever? Is there something you expect to change that would lower your/the risk thus allowing you to live a more normal social life? ("Normal" for lack of better word)

For context, I've been back in the office for more than a year at this point (haven't worn a mask in a year either). I'm pretty sure people come to work sick like they always did and don't even get a covid test most of the time any more. It feels kind of like flu/colds were prior to Covid; where it's an honor rule with no benefit of being honest and staying home when sick. I'm pretty indifferent towards people still taking the extra measures (your choice) but it does seem like an inconvenience with no end in sight (IMO).

Edit: They added more context to their comment after mine. "Zero times here (: I make all of my own meals and always wear a mask out." is all there was previously. I can't comment so maybe I got flagged. No ill intention, you do you and I'm sure you have reasons that are none of my business but we're here to talk. I'm mostly just curious because I see this a lot online and it seems like there's a whole class of people that intend to just be hermits forever now (my assumption) and it intrigues me on why you'd just give in to it like that; unless you already had hermit tendencies or some increased risk factors.

[HDThoreaun]

I would like to see a lot more masking in general. In asian societies it has long been normal to see people masked up in public, not sure why we can't have that in the west other than a culture of extreme individualism. Why can't people who come to work sick just wear a mask? I kind of enjoy wearing the mask though so a bit biased. Just feels pretty rude to knowingly expose other people when you are/might be sick.

[chrismcb]

For someone who is hearing impaired masks are awful. I hope that wearing of masks is never normalized. Why are people going to work sick. That is the issue. Of course masks don't really do much for COVID.

[HDThoreaun]

Maybe get a hearing aid.

People go to work sick because their job doesn’t give them sick days. Or because they want a promotion and figure perfect attend next is how to get it. I don’t think it’s reasonable to stop people from coming to work sick unfortunately.

[theironhammer]

An N95 mask or better protects maybe. The other common masks are useless against Omicron.

Maybe a respirator type mask?

COVID is here with us just like the common cold/flu. It's never going away.

[rob74]

> like flu/colds were prior to Covid; where it's an honor rule with no benefit of being honest and staying home when sick

no benefit, except for your own health? If you have the flu, Covid or any other serious infection, you should definitely stay at home and get some rest - not for others, but for yourself.

[Spartan-S63]

Sure, but without mandated paid sick leave, people don't stay home. When it's the difference between going to work to scrape by, or stay home and have trouble making rent or buying food, most folks choose to go to work sick.

We're a society that doesn't value collective health very much.

[piva00]

You should add a qualifier that you are from the USA. Where I live it's completely frowned upon to go to work sick, to the point where you will be told off by your manager, your colleagues will think it's rude and disrespectful, etc.

I simply do not understand how the USA doesn't provide sick leave for workers, does that stem from a lack of trust between employers and employees? It seems to me that the only reason to make it difficult for people to get paid leave when they're sick is that employers feel it'd be abused and hence treat their employees as children, perpetuating the cycle of mistrust. I cannot see another reason for such a basic need for the general health of society to be missing...

[Spartan-S63]

That's fair that I should add a qualifier that I'm from the US.

The only reason I can think of is exactly what you pointed out: that it would be abused. It's really not. Most people want to work. Most people want to feel productive and that they're meaningfully doing something. It's why the myth of the welfare queen is so ridiculous or employees exploiting paid leave is equally ridiculous. The abusers are the exception to the rule, so don't punish the majority for the acts of an extreme minority.

[ianai]

They said they interact with old people - the group with the highest death rates. Not that anyone has to explain why they don't want an infectious disease to anyone else.

[archagon]

Personally, I have no issue with continuing to wear an N95 mask indoors for years to come.

[thinkmcfly]

I'll do it forever at the grocery store or any other place that has lots of people. I do plan on going to a maskless social weekend soon with a half dozen buddies, but everyone there will have up to date vaccinations and be tested