Why some vaccinated people still wear masks -- even outdoors

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Tue, 2021-05-04 20:45 — mike kraft

Why some vaccinated people won't go maskless -- even outdoors Vaccinated Americans are emerging from 14 months of social isolation into a confusing world where key questions remain about where and when to wear a mask. Faith Karimi, CNN CNN

(CNN) Texas resident Robert Soto can't wait to visit his favorite karaoke spots in Austin. He says he'll be wearing his mask when he belts out "Amber" by 311 or "The Promise" by When in Rome -- his go-to songs every time he grabs the mic at a bar.

Soto plans to resume some social activities after he gets his second vaccine shot this month, joining the more than 100 million Americans who are fully vaccinated. But his life will be nothing like his carefree pre-pandemic days.

"I will probably still wear my mask and avoid shaking hands for a long while," he says.

For Soto and many other pandemic-weary Americans, this is a tricky time. The vaccinated are emerging from 14 months of social isolation into a world where key questions remain about where and when to wear a mask.

Is that unmasked person near me vaccinated? If I don't wear a mask, am I setting a bad example or making others uneasy?

This confusion is sparking political debates similar to ones seen in the early days of the pandemic. And while places are reopening and things feel safer, lingering anxieties remain.

Americans who are fully vaccinated no longer need to wear a mask in some instances outdoors or when they're with people from their own household, according to new guidance from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But the agency urges vaccinated people to continue to take precautions in indoor public settings.

Discrepancies between state and local rules are adding to the confusion.

For example in Utah, where the state's mask mandate expired in April, some businesses continue to enforce face coverings. Restaurants and stores in many states have been struggling to balance service and safety.

In Texas, Soto can opt to go maskless. Gov. Greg Abbott lifted the state's mask mandate in March, allowing businesses to reopen at full capacity. But even with his invigorated immune system, Soto plans to keep wearing a mask in public, with or without crowds. ...

The variants may help explain why despite the apparent effectiveness of the vaccines, concerns over catching the virus are not going away.

In a new poll released Monday by the American Psychiatric Association, 64% of Americans are anxious about family members and loved ones catching the coronavirus. That's an increase from 56% last year and higher than the 49% who are concerned about catching the virus themselves. ...

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