The Face Mask Question
Face masks are required in my state in stores and on public transportation, especially for people working in a restaurant or store. But, of course, not everyone is following the rule. You can clearly see that the moment you leave your home, and people are publicly shaming establishments that don’t follow the rules on the local listservs and Facebook groups. I appreciate the places where employees are wearing masks and they are making all people visiting their establishment to wear a mask, too.
We decided to try doing carryout for my birthday next week at a local vegan restaurant. Because we do all the grocery shopping every other week, we needed to know our game plan before he went to the grocery store because my birthday would fall towards the end of the current shopping period. If we weren’t going to get carryout, we needed a Plan B.
So Josh called the restaurant to (1) find out if they were open, (2) how they were handling orders and carryout, and finished the call by asking (3) if they were wearing masks. The woman was audibly annoyed with the question and barked, “Of course!” Josh cringed as he set down the phone.
I feel weird asking. I feel weird not asking. It shouldn’t be a big deal. It should just be one more thing you check off the list—are you wearing a mask? I’m wearing a mask—and yet it feels like the most awkward question at the moment.
I’m going to keep asking it because I want to know a store or restaurant’s mask policy or shopping policies before one of us goes somewhere so we can weigh the risk. But I wish the question didn’t feel so charged.
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I am supremely irritable over the mask issue. It’s a small thing for most people – wear the mask when you go into a public space. Outside…it’s up to you; the transmission risks are greatly reduced outside. Inside…put it on. My workplace has a policy that we are to wear surgical masks (provided) at all times. My coworkers (in my office – the rest of the place is fine) won’t. “They’re not scared!” Oooh – don’t care, it’s policy. I’m not going to make it an issue, because our office is large and divided and they are no closer than 6 feet away at any time and I am always facing away from them and the air flow is in my favor. But when I hear them talking about going to stores without masks…
And then I see people with masks at the grocery store, and the masks are below their noses and I just want to tell them to pull that up because it’s doing no one any good! But I don’t, because I’m fortunate enough that work also issued us some N95s, so I wear those to the grocery store or anywhere else where people can’t be relied upon.
Obviously, I am a bit wound up on this issue. Regardless, my husband is of the opinion that we can’t know if someone preparing our food is ill, so we won’t be ordering food any time soon. I agree in principle, but I’m still tempted to just go grab a burger somewhere. (He is also tempted, as he spends a lot of time talking about where we would go and get particular foods.) Why does more than half my life center on food now????
This is the new “Do you have guns in your home?” before a play date question. Uncomfortable to ask, but a deal breaker.
We got carryout for the first time last week for my birthday and it was glorious, but the lead up with stressful. Add in the fact that it was a local restaurant we love where most of the employees speak English as their second language and me Inquiring about their safety practices turned into quite the comedy routine.
I was relieved they wear masks and we were able to feast on hummus and fattoush salad. Excited for you to get your vegan dinner!
I hope you are able to get a delicious takeaway meal for your birthday!
I have begun wearing a mask any time I’m out in a public building, even though it isn’t technically required where I live. Some people are also wearing masks, and some people aren’t. (The ones that confuse me are those who have their children wearing masks but aren’t wearing masks themselves: I’ve seen that a few times.)
I figure that the odds that I am carrying this virus are slim, considering my lifestyle and social distancing measures, but if it helps even a little bit — even just to make others feel more comfortable — I’m willing to wear the mask.
I am in the reddest county in California. (nope, not Orange, try again) and we have had very few cases of Covid although we only just started to reopen in the last couple of weeks. I’m wearing my mask anytime I’m in a public place- at the drive thru line, grocery store etc. But, I’m clearly in the minority unless I’m at Sprouts. I’m shopping at Sprouts a LOT more because people there are mostly wearing masks. 1/2 a mile away at the local chain grocery store almost no one was wearing masks other than employees. And the town I’m in has a huge senior citizen population. It’s craziness. But, if anyone so much as asks about masks we get called liberal snowflakes. It’s just ugly. I however will proudly wear my mask. And as an aside- we’ve done take out food several times a week since this started to support the restaurant industry (and my husband’s job).
Masks required inside stores workplaces etc. here. We wear them on walks too—droplets can remain airborne for hours. I can’t believe the Covidiots. I’ve seen the masks around the neck or only over the mouth. I have no problem pointing this out to store employees who are supposed to refuse service and not allow inside anyone not wearing a mask.
Masks are not required but they are recommended here (in Ontario) by the provincial government. Many stores require that you wear one before entering, and many workplaces are requiring staff to wear them too.
It seems so unfathomable that people are actively resisting doing something that has been proven to help reduce the spread of the virus, especially when everyone does it. Most people respect the “no shoes, no shirt, no service” signs, right?
I’ve been holed up at home for most of the past 2.5 months and have not been anywhere yet where a mask would be, if not required then advisable. But you can bet that I’ll be wearing one if/when I venture out to a store/restaurant/office again.
I see Beth stole the point I was going to share – that “are you wearing masks?” is now the equivalent of the “do you have guns?” question you’ve talked about before.
Neither are relevant in NZ right now. Our Ministry of Health has recommended masks for certain workers, but never for the general populace, because our lockdown rules were so strict, and because we never got widespread community transmission. Though they encouraged people to wear them at the beginning if we had them – lots of people wore them to supermarkets etc. My husband, for one. I’d definitely be wearing one if I was in the US.
And the “I’m not scared” response to wearing a mask is so wrong, isn’t it? Because the whole point of wearing a mask is to prevent spreading the disease, not to prevent catching it. Being a good member of society.
I’m glad you’ll get your meal for your birthday.
I hate wearing masks and I’m wearing them in public spaces. Most people here are.
However, so many wear them wrong. If I can see your nose, YOU’RE DOING IT WRONG!
I hope you get the best birthday meal possible <3
What’s are your thoughts on my body, my choice? I get why people are mad that some people aren’t wearing masks, but I also think personal health/body choices should be a choice. Whether it’s masks, vaccines, abortions, wardrobe, ivf, lgbtq community, whatever it is, my body, my choice. I don’t think shaming people for their choice to not wear one is fair. I totally support why people choose to wear one and why they choose not to, but no matter what side someone falls on, it’s not my place to tell them what to do with their body/life. Americans need to stop judging and telling others how to live their lives.