This concerns the Virus protection with the mask was being mandatory

This is a huge topic and people get very heated. Regarding masks effectiveness: 1. Wearing a proper mask properly is about 67% effective at protecting inhaled air and about 87% effective at protecting exhaled air. This means that, if an infected person got right up in your face and sneezed right on your mouth, you'd be three times less likely to get infected yourself if you were wearing a mask as recommended and the sneezing person was not, 8 times less likely to be infected if the sneezing person was properly wearing a mask and you were not, and 24 times less likely to be infected if you were both properly wearing surgical masks. 2. Wearing an improper mask, wearing a mask improperly, etc., is still somewhat effective, but far less so. For example, wearing a bandana folded and tightly wrapped around the nose and mouth (not recommended, but better than nothing) is about 50% effective at filtering the virus from being inhaled and 80% effective at filtering out the virus from being exhaled. If the bandana is single layer and loosely fitting, the effectiveness drops to about 10/20%, respectively, for inhaling/exhaling. 3. The vast majority of people out and about on a daily basis are not following the recommended mask guidelines. They are not wearing tightly fitted, two or more layer, tightly woven, cloth masks with filter pockets. If they are wearing masks at all, they are likely old t-shirts, leggings, bandanas, ski masks, costume masks, wool scarves, etc. I even saw a young man the other day wearing a paper plate with eye-holes cut into it with a rubber band securing it to his face. It's generally safe to assume that those sorts of masks are less effective. 4. Staying away from other people is more effective than masks. 2 meters of distance is more effective than wearing even an N95 mask. 5. Regardless of the science, there will always be unbelievers, especially in the USA. People here are whacky. I don't know how many times I've heard people justify not wearing their mask or getting too close to other people by saying that God will protect them. Daniel in the Bible was thrown into the lion's den and the lions didn't kill him as they ought have done. But Daniel didn't purposely waltz into the den to test God's reward of his faith, he was put there and God protected him. Not wearing one's mask because one assumes God will protect oneself and one's loved ones from the disease is dumb on multiple levels, and if one get sick as a result, whether it's because one tested God or because there is no God to protect one, then, well, either way, one is an idiot. Lastly, though, and maybe this seems contrary to every point I just made, but 6. The government isn't there to interpret science and punish people for failing to protect themselves. It is a bit tricky, though, when there is a public health crisis, like this one, in which case, it is the government's job to protect society as a whole from self-destructing because of a few idiots. But since more than half the people walking around outside of their homes at any given time are not wearing masks properly, I doubt the government can effectively punish that. Add in the fact that masks are only mostly effective and less effective than staying away from each other, and that the economy depends on commerce that requires people to not be far away from one another all of the time, the government has to chose between two bad options: a) shut down and starve or b) reopen and get sick. Now, I'll catch flack from a lot of people for saying this, but reopening and demasking now, when we are so flipping close to getting people vaccinated, is incredibly, incredibly stupid and unfortunate. But, I think anyone who didn't see this coming was horribly misinformed on how incredibly incredibly stupid and unfortunate our governments are.

Our state is not opening until a little over a month from now. By then everyone who wants to be vaccinated will have had that opportunity. You don't need to be forced by the government to inform yourself and decide whether or not you wish to wear a mask and be protected or not wear one and take your chances. Not forcing people to wear masks doesn't mean you can't wear one if you choose to do so. I think people should be able to choose for themselves. Especially if they have antibodies. Private businesses can still have mandatory mask restrictions, but at least in that case you can choose whether or not to use that business and follow the mandate. And I'm pretty sure hospitals will still be vigilant, and not just because of COVID. They were wearing masks long before that. If you don't want to get sick stay home, stay 6ft away, mask up and stay safe. YOU STILL HAVE THAT CHOICE! Letting other people have their freedom to choose doesn't hurt you. If the 'idiots' as bostjan calls them die then the population as a whole becomes smarter because the idiots are gone. I would think that would make those who think they are the academic elite and atheists celebrate. No more idiots and theologians in the world to contaminate their 'higher way of thinking'! The fascists in the government should never have forced us to do anything. They should have informed us and let us die idiots if that's what we want. At least this way everyone gets to choose for themselves. That's how it should be in THE LAND OF THE FREE!

First I think governors opening up their states's business to 100% and no mandatory masks is totally foolish. That said I'm hoping the businesses will be sensible enough to open up gradually. Plus force masks for entering Plus the residence will do the right thing and wear masks. I notice most states with completely lax covid policies are governed by Re publican governors. Coincidence? I doubt it.