Ron Chusid 
Cleveland Clinic: The pandemic is not over. Precautions such as wearing masks remain important.
#COVID #CovidIsNotOver #BringBackMasks https://health.clevelandclinic.org/is-the-pandemic-over/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_campaign=cc+tweets
No, the COVID-19 Pandemic Isn’t Over

The U.S. President ended the national public health emergency declaration on May 11, 2023. But that doesn’t mean the pandemic’s over. Find out what it does mean and how it will affect you.

Cleveland Clinic
Jun 4, 2023 at 1:22pmWeb
Show threadBater KariJun 4, 2023
@rchusid When I walk around outdoors I don't wear a mask. When I go into stores or ride the train into Manhattan I put on a mask I carry in my pocket. The James J. Peters VA Medical Center still has its mandatory mask policy. When I go there for my appointments there is a fully stocked mask dispenser at the front entrance, the VA police officers do enforce the mask policy.
Show threadRon Chusid Jun 4, 2023

@bater No, usually no reason to wear a mask outdoors, although there might be some risk in really crowded outdoor situations. About the only time I'd keep a mask on after going outdoors was in really cold weather--it sometimes helped in the winter too.

It is good to hear that the hospital still requires masks. Hopefully you wear an N95 mask or something comparable. I assume the masks given out at the entrance are only surgical masks.

Show threadBater KariJun 4, 2023

The masks are disposable pleated masks that are blue. I'm not sure of the material, I would say it's like a paper material.

@rchusid

Show threadRon Chusid Jun 4, 2023
@bater I figure that it is better people wear such masks as opposed to nothing in terms of reducing spread if they are infected. To protect yourself you would be safer in an N95 or comparable mask.
Show threada.d. 🗽🇺🇸Jun 4, 2023
@rchusid Thankfully on our way there but not at the finished line yet. 😷
Show threadHudsonJun 5, 2023
@rchusid In my experience, I have observed security guards at Cleveland Clinic enforcing masking requirements. When they see someone with their mask being improperly worn or not worn at all, they walk over and make the person wear it correctly. Hats off to them. This is as it should be.