Here and there I see someone wearing a mask, but for the most part, it seems that the end of the pandemic and the end of mask wearing coincided. An Axios/Ipsos American Health Index in August found that only 15 percent of Americans wear a mask at least sometimes, a decline from 23 percent in May and 30 percent in February.
I was glad to give up masks. They’re uncomfortable and make it harder to hear and to breathe. The loops occasionally knocked off my hearing aids. Masks block my vision when I’m looking down, which is scary on uneven sidewalks and steps.
Since my recent bout of COVID, however, I’ve been thinking about whether to mask in some situations. Here’s a sampling of medical advice.