Nobody likes talking about COVID and the pandemic, but it changed the world and we continue to see the fallout, even years later. Businesses were forced to close, some are still looking to rebound, more people work from home than before, and wearing masks were required to enter banks and to fly on a plane. It was a weird time, and while things have gotten mostly back to normal, there are still a few things that haven't changed yet. Most places allow you to enter without masks now, and flying without masks is allowed, but certain places still require them and perhaps it is time to do away with these rules.

Mask Requirements in the Magic Valley

Credit: Michele Ursi
Credit: Michele Ursi
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Most places have lifted mask guidelines, but there are a few places that still ask guests to wear them. One of these places is the hospital and doctor's offices. I understand nobody wants the spread of COVID or other diseases, and the argument can be made that it should have always been required, but most of us are walking in and out of the hospital, and if we have a disease that is that contagious, we are likely to spread it with or without a mask. For pregnant women going to their appointments, they have enough going on already, that a mask shouldn't be required. With cold and flu season, patients shouldn't be forced to cough and sneeze back into their faces. The employees are forced to wear a mask 40 plus hours a week, which makes for a tough working environment. 

Lifting All Mask Requirements in the Magic Valley

Photo by Ibrahim Boran on Unsplash
Photo by Ibrahim Boran on Unsplash
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While masks in a medical facility may be in place to help patients and employees, when there are no mask requirements anywhere else, is it as effective? An employee or patient choosing to wear a mask is one thing, but requiring them to seems to be out of place these days. When an employee can go out to lunch and be around many people without a mask and come back to work, they will likely spread anything they would catch anyway. Coworkers will often spend time together outside of work, meaning anything picked up could spread quickly. Patients likely were not wearing a mask before the appointment and if they have to remove it or change to a specific one while in the office or hospital, then they have already exposed anything they may have. Hospitals and doctor's offices require specific masks, instead of our comfortable ones, which makes wearing them that much more inconvenient. 

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When will masks no longer be required in medical facilities? Nobody knows the answer to that, but many employees would love to see the requirements lifted, and many patients wouldn't be disappointed to see them go as well. For now, we will all sit and wear our masks when visiting the doctor or hospital, but hopefully, soon the regulations will be lifted. 

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