John GruberSep 23, 2023
I’m surprised the setup process for every new iPhone still asks whether you want to use FaceID with a mask when 99+% of people aren’t wearing face masks any more. There are lots of features that a small percentage of people use, but they don’t get asked in the device setup process.
Show threadRob ShearerSep 23, 2023

@gruber “Apple declares the pandemic over!” is the headline that gets written the moment they make that change.

Maybe 2023 was a reasonable time to eat that story, and punting on it does show a lack of courage…but I do get wanting to dodge the issue.

Show threadJohn Gruber
@rvcx The pandemic has clearly been over for a long time. Covid isn't over and I doubt will be over in my lifetime, but it's obviously no longer a pandemic.
Sep 23, 2023 at 10:25pmIvory for Mac
Show threadPriaSep 23, 2023
@gruber @rvcx so very very wrong about this.
Show threadRob ShearerSep 23, 2023

@gruber I’m not a professional clickbaiter. Perhaps “Apple declares COVID no longer a risk!”

There is something very weird about how masks just kind of faded away without formal recommendations. They are probably still sensible in some settings (eg hospitals), and have become a badge of the doomer cult, which intersects my online orbits more than antivaxers these days. But nobody wants to attempt that public conversation unless they have to.

Show threadRob ShearerSep 23, 2023
@gruber (For the record, “less than 5% of our customers are using the mask feature”, or whatever the stat is, strikes me as a more-than-sufficient corporate side-step. Just hypothesizing about how “drop the mask thing” got shouted down inside Apple.)
Show threadFreediverXSep 24, 2023

@gruber @rvcx
That is not the most helpful or enlightened take on this subject, John.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/signs-point-rise-covid-rcna103439

All signs point to a rise in Covid

Covid cases, hospitalizations, and even deaths, are rising as fall approaches. What to know about the latest cases and variants.

NBC News
Show threadJohn GruberSep 25, 2023
@freediverx @rvcx That’s not a pandemic.