Masking Up Again For COVID-19 Not A Problem For Many In Herndon

Herndon VA

13 August, 2021

10:38 AM

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HERNDON, VA — On Wednesday, the town of Herndon began requiring all people age 2 and over, regardless of their COVID-19 vaccination status, to wear a mask when visiting its governmental facilities or attending public meetings. Town officials decided to reinstate the mask mandate after new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance recommended people mask up in any indoor public places, regardless of vaccination status, as the delta variant contributes to an increase in COVID-19 cases. On Friday morning, the Virginia Department of Health reported 2,270 new COVID-19 cases across the state, which is down slightly from the 2,361 new cases reported the day before. However, the number of new cases has been climbing since mid-July, with daily numbers in the 2,200 range, which has not being seen since February. In addition, Gov. Ralph Northam issued an emergency order Thursday requiring universal masking for students, teachers and staff at all public and private schools in the state. Patch asked its Herndon readers on Facebook and in Neighbor posts how they felt about being required to wear masks again indoors and at crowded outdoor spaces. Almost all of them said they didn't have a problem masking up again. Herndon's Kamila Mammadova Blufe said in a Facebook post that with the number of cases surging, it only made sense to wear masks, even if you were vaccinated. "I very much prefer to continue living without illness, so it was a no-brainer to get vaccinated (in my case, Pfizer) and to continue wearing a mask," John Reston said in a Neighbor post. "Sure beats wearing a coffin or even getting awfully sick, despite the post-vaccination small chance of dying. Anti-vaxxers are fools who don't know, or appreciate, the meaning of public health." Many of those responding said they were already wearing masks indoors and in public before the new CDC recommendations. Several said they or a family member had a health condition that put them at higher risk. Others had children under 12 who were too young to receive the vaccine. Andrew Cybulska, whose wife has a health condition that puts her at greater risk, was glad that more people were masking up. "Hopefully vaccine passports are not too far behind," he said. "It's pretty clear at this point that we can't trust our unvaccinated neighbors to follow the guidelines re: mask wearing for the unvaccinated. In fact a lot of them used the guidance as an opportunity to take off masks even though they were unvaccinated, because they knew no one was asking. It's time to start asking." Here are some of the other replies from Facebook and Neighbor posts: "Why don't you just ask 'How do you feel about staying alive?' It's the same thing. For those who oppose masks and vaccinations, Darwin will take care of you and make it better for the rest of us." — Howard Carlin, Herndon "I personally think it's necessary, we shouldn't have to wait till things are out of control to take measures." — Delia Ghannam, Herndon "Who cares how you feel about it? The virus does not." — Michael Stewart, Herndon "I don't like wearing one, but it is necessary." — Karen Luckett Krause "Simple equation: I love you all more than I hate wearing it." — Kostas Pontikis, Herndon "I don't like wearing a mask now that I am vaccinated but if that's what it takes to do things I want to do, then I will comply. And if folks are not vaxxed then we who are could still be in trouble and as it goes, it's not just for me but for those around me who may have other health issues and be at risk." — Margie Shapira "Don't care. It's a piece of fabric. Just put it on and go about my business. Husband works at a pharmacy. We never stopped wearing them." — Dayana Eyler Related: Masks Required At All Virginia Schools: Northam Mask Up Herndon: Mandates Return For Town Facilities, Meetings