Getting Closer to the End of the Pandemic

A sigh of relief mixed with a word of caution. That’s how you might describe the reaction to the news this week about the pandemic.

Most Californians are probably pleased to hear the news Monday that the state in a week will lift the statewide mask mandate for indoor public places for those who are vaccinated. State officials also announced that they are working to update mask requirements in California’s K-12 schools.

This news comes after a poll by the Public Policy Institute of California found that two-thirds of those surveyed said they believe the worst of the pandemic is behind us.

And who doesn’t want the pandemic behind us. It’s been a long two years. It was this month in 2020 that the pandemic became official.  And it was March of 2020 when the first of the nation’s stay at home orders was issued, right here in California.

While pretty much everyone is relieved about the easing of restrictions, the other news this week about the pandemic was sobering, with the death toll related to COVID-19 in the U.S. had passed the 900-thousand mark. Many of us know someone who has died from the virus.  

And that’s why public health officials caution about lifting all restrictions, especially for those who are unvaccinated.  They point to a new study by the California Department of Public Health that found that wearing masks indoors gives you a much better chance of not testing positive for COVID...from about a 60-to 80 percent better chance of not becoming infected.

The pandemic won’t be over till it’s over, but at least it finally appears we are getting closer.

(Photo Getty Images)