Posted on by Californiacontrarian

Practically Speaking


Because my gym is on lockdown again,  I have started walking outside in my neighborhood three or four times per week. Whereas my knees could do fine on the gym’s upright bike every day, practically speaking, they will only tolerate neighborhood walking three times a week.  Because honesty is the best policy, I must confess that I do not wear a mask while neighborhood walking . . . mostly because I forget, but even when I remember, I do not wear one, but rather I put it into my pocket, just in case. Nonetheless, if while walking, I am chastised by a Karen for not wearing a mask, I have two potential responses rehearsed and ready (both white lies . . . err . . . okay, just plain old lies.)

My first possible response is, “I am sure you are aware that my mask wearing is mainly to protect you from me. Well you are fortunate as I just got my Covid test back . . . I am negative.”

However my second potential response is better as it will probably elicit sympathy from a Karen. “I had Covid in May. Since my recovery, my antigen test is now negative and my antibody test is positive. Good news for you, and better news for me.”

What if my second response was actually true? What if I did already have Covid? Would I be “required” to still wear a mask? Could I eat at a restaurant or go to a gym? While these are somewhat reasonable questions even today, practically speaking gyms and restaurants today could not to be opened to take care of only those few individuals who have recovered from Covid, as there are not enough of them. But what will happen as the vaccine gets rolled out beyond those who are health care workers and those in nursing homes? 

As I see it, practically speaking this will soon be a major issue. If I have taken the albeit small risk of being vaccinated for Covid, why should I then continue to be subjected to lockdowns and mask wearing? Will some restaurants, etc. be opened to serve only vaccinated individuals and those who have already recovered from Covid? Will there be gyms, bars, and churches open, but restricted to those same individuals? 

Similarly, are those recovered Covid positive college students being treated any differently now that they are no longer potentially infectious? . . . The short answer is “no.” But why not? It would certainly seem that these students should not be limited as to partying, gathering, going to in-person classes, etc. Perhaps frat houses should be able to have Covid-positive parties! You laugh, but as time goes on, more and more people will question why their liberty is being restricted even though they cannot spread Covid.

Thus far I have not heard of any plan as to how to deal with this issue in the future, just as I have not heard of any reasonable way to deal with the close to 2000 already positive students at SDSU. Just today I read a rant from the Alabama basketball coach concerning why he has to wear a mask when he has already had and recovered from the coronavirus. Mark my words – this will only be the first of many, many rants.

Practically speaking, there are only two possible explanations for this apparent void of using common sense. Either “those in the know” have no idea how to deal with this issue, or . . . more likely, they don’t care.

However, do not worry, as Joe “everybody needs to wear a mask even in their own private bathroom” Biden will undoubtedly have the answer!

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