Readers respond to last week’s Feedback Friday topic, which was:
Covid Masking
How comfortable are you about resuming your daily activities normally (i.e. without mask)?
Should all business simply have a mask optional policy?
Why or why not should a business still require a mask for all patrons?
Here’s what you said:
As a business owner, making the decision to mask or unmask is very difficult. We have opted to remain masked and follow our strict Covid guidelines at this time. We are a personal care business and because our guests work so closely with our team, we have decided that staying masked is the best option for everyone.
Rebecca Santoro, Annapolis
Ever thing is just not for us. May the good LORD KEEP YOU.
Stacey Lanier, Winchester
All businesses should have a "mask optional" policy. The CDC has moved on, Hogan said no masks. Most are vaccinated. People NEED to see smiles!!!!!!! It's healthy to smile and be smiled at!!!! More than you know!
Wendy Ryan, Crownsville
I will continue to wear a mask inside and outside except when social distancing. There are still some who are immune-compromised and others who are unvaccinated and I am happy to keep my germs to myself. Also, I have young children who have not been vaccinated and I want to avoid any chance that they could be exposed.
Amy Green, Arnold
Although things have gotten much better the pandemic is far from over with only 43% of Maryland residents fully vaccinated. The guidelines from the CDC said unvaccinated individuals should still wear masks. Unfortunately, there are far too many unvaccinated people who are bragging about not wearing a mask and this cannot be enforced since there isn't anyway of knowing who is and who isn't vaccinated. Per the link below, more than 700 epidemiologists who believe people should still be wearing masks for at least the next year.
Susan Miller, Bowie
My family and I are probably the only people in Maryland who did not change our routine over the past year. We both went to work everyday. We traveled 3 times in 2020. We hugged our family, had parties, shopped, ate out, and in general lived our lives. I feel it is past time to open businesses and schools and allow people to live their best life. If people choose to live in fear, then that must be their best life. I enjoy earning a living and maintaining my mental health. This is not a popular opinion but I will also say that many of my friends and family are afraid to voice these same thoughts because of the fear-loving people who are angry and bitter about losing more than a year of their life. Thanks for listing. Love What's Up!
Jeanne Rieken, Edgewater
As should have been for 60-90 days now, individual businesses should have determined and identified the NECESSITY of mask wearing for the fellow associates and consumers & clientele.....BUSINESS KNOWS BUSINESS, COMMERCE & DEVELOPMENT....The GOVERNMENT seems to know only a few things.....
ENTITLEMENT, SPENDING, TAXATION, and POWER. ......repeat & repeat again.
The Recent Chinese Wuhan Lab PLAGUE (aka COVID-19,Coronavirus) has given every CITIZEN a true lesson in Current Events & CIVICS.......next election choose the best public servants with practical knowledge & respect for the political power bestowed upon them.
Gerard Hall, Annapolis
Believe that people should continue to wear masks inside and socially distance sit on certain parameters until we have the summer months behind us. There remains too much unknown about covid and the efficacy of vaccines. Not too omit that millions are still not vaccinated.
Kathy Minor, Annapolis
My wife, family, and I are fully vaccinated, but without assurance that nearly 100 percent of our American neighbors have also been immunized, I believe we all should wear masks in businesses and indoor gatherings. I can't be a witness to infection of unprotected people by anybody else.
Philip Allen, Annapolis
Stores should make masks optional for those patrons who are already vaccinated.
Jensin Sommer, Annapolis
I think businesses should have the option. This Pandemic has seriously affected everyone's psyche. There are people who have compromised immune systems. As we ease back into a somewhat normal. Lifestyle, we need to be respectful that we are all individuals with individual opinions. I do think that no masks outdoors is appropriate. As a catering company business owner, I will ask my staff to stay masked for the near future, even at outdoor events to make our clients and their guests feel super safe about us serving them. Hopefully by mid-summer we can be rid of the masks too!
Sandra DiMilio
Mask use should always be optional. Some have difficulty medically with wearing masks and many have already been vaccinated against CoVid. Mask effectiveness has not been proven. It should have always been a personal decision.
Jill Mischo, Davidsonville
Stores should continue to require masks. Although under half the population has been fully vaccinated, in stores that have dropped the requirement, well over half the customers I've seen were mask-less. And I'll bet that many of those who did wear a mask, such as I, were in fact vaccinated. It's not a big deal to wear a mask and it'll keep us all a bit safer and a bit less fearful.
Marc Knapp, Annapolis
