"I don't know where you are from, but masks are not obligatory here. It is really quite hot inside and the kids look awful uncomfortable. You can have them take off those masks for the tour as #COVID really is of no concern anymore around here."
I trust his words about concern - we are an odd group in London right now. But I don't take advice on public health or personal health from non-experts. I wanted to lecture him, but caught a definitive glance from my partner...
To add to this, I was not even paying close attention to the #stats. Evidently the week we were in #London was one of the deadliest #COVID weeks of the #pandemic, and yet someone with no #PublicHealth training or knowledge was suggesting we take the #masks off the kids.
The week before Christmas had the highest number of deaths not involving Covid of any week of the pandemic. 14,530 deaths were registered in England and Wales in the week ending 23 December 2022 (Week 51). This was 20.7% above the five-year average (2,493 excess deaths). https://twitter.com/ONS/status/1610958612611956737