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Re: Mask wearing requirements
I would prefer masking for a lot longer. It is what I will be doing
anyway. But I don't feel I can insist on it without being a hypocrite
because I am doing another activity that is mask-optional in circumstances
where I feel that it is way more dangerous - I have a volunteer shift at
the patient family learning center at MGH, where masking is now optional.
MGH is a hospital, where there are sick people and immunocompromised
people. WTAH (heck)? I wear an N95 and don't take it off at all. It
was a relief to us that Dana Farber Cancer Institute is keeping the mask
requirement.
I am a big fan of ventilation. This week I started a tap dance class
after two years off. Masks are optional (four of us were masked out of
twenty people) but both windows were wide open. I want windows in the
ringing room open. I'm still opening bus windows when I get on (when
possible - the shuttle buses don't have openable windows).
I think Josh's point about wastewater is interesting, because
seemingly valid numbers are available. Other indicators are weird - last
week Massachusetts Covid hospital cases were generally down, but
intubations were up. Maybe that just means that people don't go to the
hospital for Covid unless it's dire.
If we're putting it to a vote, I don't know the best way to go about
it. I am curious who besides Allison is staying away because of masks.
I'd like to know how many people would stop coming if it becomes optional.
I was glad to hear from Pi.
Laura Dickerson
----- Original Message -----
From: "Joshua Burson via Boston-change-ringers" <boston-change-ringers
cosmos phy tufts edu>
To: "Pi Fisher" <nerd of pi gmail com>
Cc: "boston-change-ringers," <boston-change-ringers cosmos phy tufts edu>
Sent: Saturday, May 20, 2023 3:34:58 PM
Subject: Re: Mask wearing requirements
Hi all,
I agree that this is something we should at least consider. And I agree
with Allison that we're at a point where we can go masks-optional.
However, I'm going to make a couple of suggestions:
1) That we decide in advance what criteria need to be met for us to go
masks-optional (and by extension, at what point we'd make masks mandatory
again.) I'd suggest that we do this on the basis of COVID levels in Boston
wastewater (see: https://www.mwra.com/biobot/biobotdata.htm), and that we
should set a baseline of, say, 400 copies of viral RNA per mL of wastewater
for reimposing a strict mask mandate. (Current levels are about 170
copies/mL)
2) That masks should be optional ONLY if the windows can be kept open--
UNLESS COVID levels get REALLY low, like say under 100 copies/mL. Barring
that, if we need to close the windows because it's too cold/there's rain
blowing into the ringing chamber, we mask up.
A couple of other thoughts:
3) This should be masks-OPTIONAL, not no-mask. No giving people grief if
they want to continue wearing one, for whatever reason;
4) It may well make sense to have different policies for different
locations, so that people who don't feel comfortable with masks OR with
fellow ringers being unmasked can still ring comfortably.
5) Does it make sense to do an online survey on how people feel on this
topic?
--Josh
On Sat, May 20, 2023 at 12:11 PM Pi Fisher via Boston-change-ringers <
boston-change-ringers cosmos phy tufts edu> wrote:
> (I only go to handbells, in case people are interested in different
> policies for the two.)
>
> I will continue wearing a mask for the foreseeable future, and I will be
> more likely to attend if others are also masked. I probably won't leave
> due
> to others being unmasked, but it'll make me less eager to come the next
> time.
>
> On Sat, 20 May 2023, 11:41 Allison Schinagle via Boston-change-ringers, <
> boston-change-ringers cosmos phy tufts edu> wrote:
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > Given how a lot of organizations have been relaxing their masking
> > requirements recently, I was wondering if we have a particular
> > condition
> in
> > mind when we would do the same? It would be good to know for sure what
> > would make people more comfortable switching to mask-optional.
> >
> > Best,
> > Allison Schinagle
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