Jan. 31, 2023
I started the day by learning English on the morning of the last day of the first month of the Year 2023. I listened to, read silently, wrote, and read aloud a conversation between a couple scheduled to go to a wedding. When they received an email that said "masks optional," they decided to bring theirs in case they needed them at the venue although the man was somewhat reluctant because he thought masks would spoil the fun atmosphere of the occasion.
Though the ratios of those masked and those that weren't were fifty-fifty, they decided they should wear their masks when they saw the bride's parents wearing masks.
The conversation reminds me of the government's announcement to lower Covid-19's status this coming May 8 to category 5 which is of the same level as seasonal influenza in terms of severity. When it takes effect, what will the government's official guideline be like in terms of whether one should or doesn't have to wear a mask in potentially crowded and largely closed spaces such as trains and buses?
Before we knew Covid-19, when many cases of influenza were reported, some would take precautions by wearing a mask, but not everyone. Those who weren't didn't feel social pressure to wear one unless they had uncontrollable coughs or sneezes. Therefore, when Covid's 19's status becomes the same as influenza, I assume that the government's stance on our public etiquette regarding disease prevention should also be pretty much the same as that for the time when we only had influenza but not Covid-19.
Should that be the "new" new-normal, whether or not to wear a mask in public will be a matter of common etiquette, I hope. If you are afraid of catching a virus, you will wear one. If you feel it is unnecessary for whatever reason you may have such as your generally strong immunity, or overall high energy level, you may not. And when you cannot stop coughing or sneezing, you will avoid being in public spaces, or wear a mask to minimize your risk of infecting others when you DO need to be in public spaces somehow like having to commute by train or bus.
