April 19, 2022

Dismay

Yesterday, a federal judge in Florida threw out the CDC’s mask mandate for airplanes. Many people were happy, others, not so much. For flight attendants it makes their job easier since they no longer have to enforce mask wearing, but it also puts them at more personal risk. People with medical vulnerabilities and families traveling felt blind sided. Besides the increasing risk from the infectious Omicron variant, Ba.2, spreading across the country, even here in King County, health officials say this ruling erodes the authority of public health agencies and hampers their ability to respond to health emergencies. Hopefully, the Biden administration will appeal. This decision sets a dangerous precedent for future emergencies.

Dr. Robert Wachter, the chair of the department of medicine at the University of California, San Francisco, expressed dismay, “If this becomes a precedent, that a judge can overrule government and C.D.C. experts, that puts us in a problematic place for the next surge, the next pandemic, bioterrorism or who knows. Government needs to be able to act, and to imply government does not have that authority is deeply concerning.” Dr. Richard Besser, president and chief executive of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a former acting director of the C.D.C, also expressed concerns regarding “implications for future crises, of the ability to put in place simple public health measures to keep people safe.”

The timing is bad because of the new variant. New data shows that mass transit was a big driver for spreading infections in the initial outbreak 2 years ago. Those of us who are vaccinated and boosted are better protected from infection, which helps, but the specter of long COVID still hovers over all, as well as the well being of those with immunodeficiencies. Those still not vaccinated are at risk.

That leaves us with decisions to make, assessing our own risks and our loved ones risks. I suggest continuing the “Swiss cheese” layered approach when appropriate, particularly when traveling. Wearing good masks when indoors, using ventilation, distancing, and getting boosted- they all work together. And don’t forget accessing meds if infections happen. Infections happen despite your best intent with these infectious variants. Most experts say they will continue to wear good masks when traveling. I know I will.

We are safer for having our vaccines. Data shows that vaccinated people have rare hospitalizations if they get COVID. Masks will protect you, especially the better KN95, N95, and KF94.

Jamie and I had a wonderful time at the Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau. We feel like we threaded the needle since we traveled before the mask mandate was cancelled. We also stayed safe because of the layered approach. We wore our good KN95 masks on the plane, wore them at the concerts and in stores. Everyone at the concerts were required to be immunized and masked up. We tested twice since we are home and are safe, Whew. So glad we went. Playing tunes with our friends was good for the soul. Despite the spread of Omicron B.2, I feel safer because I am protected even more. We were able to get our second boosters in the Juneau airport. So convenient. This time I barely had a sore arm.

Wash your hands, cover your nose with a KN95, N95, or KF94 when needed, keep good ventilation, and think of the most vulnerable in your life.

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/18/us/politics/federal-mask-mandate-airplanes.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/29/health/ba2-variant-covid-cases.html

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/us/king-washington-covid-cases.html

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/19/world/covid-19-mandates-cases-vaccine/biden-mask-mandate-transportation

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/19/world/covid-19-mandates-cases-vaccine/health-experts-express-alarm-at-the-ruling-striking-down-the-mask-mandate-on-us-public-transit?smid=url-copy

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/19/world/covid-19-mandates-cases-vaccine/experts-are-anxious-as-mask-mandates-fall?smid=url-copy

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2022/04/15/world/covid-19-mandates-cases-vaccine/the-omicron-ba2-subvariant-has-stalled-pandemic-progress-in-the-us?smid=url-copy

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220414110903.htm mass transit

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/tracking-covids-unequal-unpredictable-toll-across-washington/

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/04/220413141610.htm layered control

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/04/19/well/masks-airplanes-covid.html

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/should-you-still-wear-a-mask-experts-guide-to-daily-decisions/

https://consumer.healthday.com/b-3-28-had-covid-or-gotten-vaccine-hospitalization-is-extremely-rare-2657025482.html