New York State’s emergency mask mandate, in place since April 2020, doesn’t require mask-wearing at all times when outside the home — just when you’re indoors and not eating, and when outdoors while unable to maintain at least six feet of distance from others.
But many New Yorkers cover their faces wherever and whenever they’re out, whether 10 feet apart or 50. Understandably: It shows you care about your neighbors. Unfortunately, because former President Donald Trump foolishly turned mask-wearing into a football in the culture wars, mask-wearing also became a political statement — one that communicated general respect for science, even when symbolism trumped utility.
We’ve known for months the risk of transmitting COVID is much lower outside than indoors. And on Tuesday, the Centers for Disease Control changed their mask-wearing recommendations, intended to encourage more Americans to get their shot. The low risk of transmission outdoors, combined with the very effective COVID vaccines, means vaccinated Americans no longer need to wear masks when outside, even when meeting unvaccinated friends and family.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo echoed the new federal guidance, and Mayor Bill de Blasio should follow. New Yorkers can stop policing people who are unmasked and distanced outdoors. Those people, especially if they’re vaccinated, aren’t putting others in harm’s way. Our only worry: Will the freedom promised by this new federal guidance really convince more Americans to get the shot? Or will it just lead to less mask-wearing from everyone, vaccinated or not?
Even as hard-won lessons from the pandemic teach us that masking up outdoors is less essential than we used to believe, there’s a pernicious strain of thinking that still relishes turning mask-wearing into a cultural wedge. That was exemplified Monday night by Tucker Carlson, who said — we’re not making this up — that parents who make their kids wear masks outdoors ought to have child protective services sicced on them.
Can someone put a sound-proof mask on that guy’s face? Better yet, take him off the air?
