Many parts of the world are gradually lifting mask-wearing mandates in public spaces as the pandemic inches closer to the end.
Yet, not everybody is ready to ditch their N95s.
Some people are immunocompromised, and there are rising cases of COVID infections in certain parts of the world from newly discovered variants–which is enough of a reason for people to still cover up to protect themselves and from infecting others.
Curious to hear from strangers online, Redditor -Omegamart- asked:
"Are you still wearing a mask in public? Why or why not?"
Wearing masks has become convenient for reasons you would totally expect.
The Perfect Cover UP
"I wear one to school because I have a nose ring and we're not allowed to have nose rings lol."
– firesidepoet
For The Insecure
"Without a mask I'm just ugly. With a mask I'm mysterious."
– Whole-Recover-8911
Grants Personal Space
"I have an average face, but terrifying/alluring serial killer eyes.... The mask gets me my own personal space without effort."
"The wife says I have the dead eyes of a shark..."
– escape1979uk
Joy Of Anonymity
"Went into a restaurant for pick up a few weeks ago. Saw a couple of people I knew but didn't want to talk to. I was wearing a hat, glasses and a mask. They didn't recognize me at all. Easy to avoid them."
– agreeingstorm9
Still Under Construction
"I am going through getting dental bridges so its a nice way to hide half-broken teeth."
– aBadBug
These people wear masks for the reason why the mandate was instituted in the first place.
For Safety
"Yes. My wife is immunocompromised as she is a transplant patient so I don't want to pass anything on to her."
– SirGreenDragon
Out Of Respect
"My youngest is a PTA. So many of her very young patients had Covid. She herself had RSV when she was three months old and was hospitalized. We still wear mask in public because of those that couldn't survive this virus that hasn't gone away."
– TaterMA
It's Still Risky
"I wear a mask because I interact with a lot of people every day and I don't know which ones are immunocompromised and do not want to take the risk of getting them sick."
"Why does that anger some people?"
– sharkira
It's Been Proven Effective
"I'm the type of guy that gets bad colds every summer and winter. I haven't had one in over two years since wearing a mask."
"Also a fair number of my neighbours are high-risk; even if I don't come down with 'it' (even if I'm all jabbed and boosted), I'd rather not pass 'it' on to them."
– neohylanmay
Never Again
"I stopped for a while. I got Covid this week. I am triple vaxxed and healthy and it knocked me on my a**. I’m masking from now on for two reasons."
- "I want to avoid getting Covid again, it sucked."
- "if it was that bad for me, I can’t imagine what it would be like for people more physically vulnerable. I want to reduce the spread to lower the risk for everyone."
– Astuary-Queen
Still In A Pandemic
"I wear one in public because covid isn't gone, people are still catching it, people see still dying or having to live with long covid and I fall into a vulnerable category. I don't trust others to do the right thing (isolate if positive) so I look after myself."
– LaraH39
It's Second Nature
"It's become a habit (I often put it on when I'm outside)."
"I work at a fast food restaurant."
"People won't talk to me as often."
– stinkylooloo89
With the TSA announcing they have gotten rid of the mask requirement on air travel, I'm still be wearing a mask.
I'm vaccinated, boosted, and I don't have an underlying medical condition that makes me vulnerable to infection, but wearing a mask on planes gives me a peace of mind somehow.
I've also gotten so used to wearing them as I've flown a lot, cautiously, during the pandemic, that boarding a plane without one would somehow make me feel naked.
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