First off.....................thank you everyone for the Birthday wishes. I have heard from 2 of my 4 children so far. Hubby remembered after our daughter was leaving and yelled "happy birthday". He looked pretty sheepish too. LOL He thought it was still May. Silly man. Good thing I am not easily offended by things like that.
I had a Doctor's appointment this morning. Healthy is the word he used to describe me. Notice, he did not say 'normal'. That is a running joke in our family. We never say anything or anyone is normal. After all...............whose definition of normal do you use?
While at my Doctor's office I finally asked the all important question:
"When, where, and should we be wearing face masks?"
His answer really made a lot of sense. Here is what I learned.
If you are going into church, wear your mask. If you are going into someplace where there are more than 50 people and physical distancing can not be observed (wedding reception graduation party, etc), wear your mask. If you go somewhere where it is required; (Costco, beauty salon, nail salon),wear your mask. If you are traveling by public transportation and especially by airplane, wear your mask. If you are going to a grocery store YOU DO NOT NEED TO WEAR A MASK! He said the ventilation system in grocery stores are quite excellent. If you are walking around outside YOU DO NOT NEED TO WEAR A MASK! Most department stores also have excellent ventilation, no need for a mask. (Darn, I forgot to ask him about casinos LOL)
Here is the kicker..............if you are in public and someone is coughing and sneezing, put your mask on. If you are a person who touches their face quite a bit, wear your mask to keep your hands off your face.
He also informed me, wearing a mask does protect you 20-30%. Therefore, if you have a mask on and someone else has a mask on that protects you up to 60%. His big thing is to have hand sanitizer with you at all times and use it each time you leave a store. Once you are home................WASH YOUR HANDS WITH SOAP FOR 20 SECONDS. (Sing happy birthday 3 times)
Wearing disposable gloves is the worse thing you can do to try and keep any virus away from you. When the gloves are removed, the 'germs' scatter. Hence, good hand washing is the key.
Hubby and I discussed it when I got home. We are going to carry a couple of masks with us at all times in a baggie. If it is needed, then we will be prepared. Otherwise, we are going to stop panicking each time we leave the house. I have wipes in my car, hand sanitizer in my purse and a deep faith in God. I will continue to wear a mask at church, Costco, beauty shop and the pharmacy. (Lots of sick folks there)
This is just information I was given today by my healthcare professional. Do what makes you feel safe. (Actually, that was his last statement to me on the subject) If wearing a mask gives you confidence, than go for it.
That sounds a little "loose" to me and not adhering to the CDC guidelines but each to their own. I have faith in God but I also believe we are to take personal responsibility. Christians die every day. Being a Christian does not make you immune to pain and suffering. Please be careful and be safe! One of the podcasts I listen to, Amber Crawley, contracted Covid-19 and she wore a mask. You might want to take a look at her experience in her podcast. She's young so she survived thank goodness. Take care!
ReplyDeleteIn my daily goings about, I don't have much feeling or opinion about anyone else's decision to wear a mask or not. But when I'm given the opportunity to actually think about it (as your post does, Marsha) I have to say... having the perspective that wearing a mask at the present time protects others from me (if I have a virus - COVID or otherwise), I find I feel disrespectful of others when I don't wear one when I enter enclosed public spaces. Any protection I may get from wearing one is a bonus. My going out right now isn't filled with worry or panic, but certainly I'm aware that I'm taking a calculated risk. As when our son visited yesterday and we dined outside on the deck - at the same table. Calculated risk. I'm hoping that the odds are in our favor. I'm still figuring out how life now feeling like repeated exercises in calculated risk balances with a faith that trusts in a Sovereign God. I haven't figured out the answer to that, but feeling like I'm wearing a mask for others helps with the balance, I think because it takes some of the focus off of me and my discomfort with mask wearing.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you've gone and gotten me started on gloves. Early on DH wore gloves anytime he left the house - even to get the mail from the mailbox at the end of our driveway (I actually love him for being that careful). But in looking at the situation practially, I guess I eventually convinced him that wearing gloves when he was shopping was pointless and they were more likely to be counterproductive since he wasn't sanitizing them. Now... if wait staff in restaurants would just stop wearing them I might find myself able to dine inside again someday. Common sense tells me that the gloves they are required to wear are probably dirtier and germier than their bare hands would be, as they aren't as likely to wash or sanitize the gloves as they would be their bare hands. And I'm pretty sure most restaurant owners/managers know this, too. And some are probably more than a little frustrated they have to comply with some nonsensical rules in order to open up more fully.
I sure do look forward to a day when life doesn't feel like this anymore. Until then I guess we continue maneuvering that which is required alongside trusting in some common sense in areas where we have freedom.
If this is the advice given by your physician and you are comfortable with it then it is for you.
ReplyDeleteGood and interesting tips on mask wearing. I don't wear gloves when we're out. For an upcoming appt me and the teen will have to though and we've plenty.
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