Why I'm Still Wearing a Mask

February 10, 2022 Dennis D. McDonald

I wear an N95 mask when I go out. I have little grandchildren who are not vaccinated. I want to minimize the likelihood I will inadvertently pass something along to them when I babysit.

I’m hearing from anti-maskers who say, "Oh, even if that happens and they get sick, they will probably get a minor case."

I’ve read that too but it's the "probably" that gets to me. I’m wary. I’ve had personal experience with traumatic health conditions that were “highly unlikely” and prefer that my family avoids unnecessary pain and suffering. Since there's a nonzero risk that a child’s case could be serious, I don't like the idea of playing Russian roulette with the health of my grandchildren.

For me, I confess, mask wearing when I go out is a minor inconvenience. It reduces the possibility that I might pass an infection along to my family and to other members of the public who might also be susceptible.

This is not a political decision for me. Based on personal experience I know that low probability medical events don't always happen to "other people." So why would I engage in behavior that might promote spreading Covid-19? Following from that, how should I react to others who knowingly promote or engage in behaviors that will promote continued Covid 19 outbreaks and development of variants?

As an addendum to the above, I just read the SCIENCE report titled "COVID-19 takes serious toll on heart health—a full year after recovery" where analysis of veterans records shows a significant increase in heart related problems long term after Covid-19. While I'm sure that some will dismiss that study as "Oh, that's just a bunch of old white guys -- what does that have to do with healthy kids or young adults who get sick?"

I don't think we should be so cavalier about young people getting Covid-19 when there is so little understood about the longterm effects.

Bottom line: I’m concerned that easing up on anti-covid measures too soon might lead to another surge and to the emergence of more variants even though it is beginning to appear that the political winds are blowing in the direction of easing up. But for the time being I’m going to continue to put the well being of my grandchildren ahead of politics.