If you are working hard to not get COVID-19, then you are wearing a mask as much as possible.
But where do you wear masks?
In the elevator? I’ve seen a lot of people not doing this in my building because it’s not required – some have to be literally forced to do this.
In the car? That’s one I don’t quite get. I don’t see a point in wearing a mask while I’m driving, but I respect those who do.
How about when you are outdoors? I do in most outdoor setting, unless I’m really not around other people. I know that health officials say you only really need to worry about wearing a mask inside public places, but I take extra precautions.
If others don’t, that’s fine. What I don’t understand is why some people feel they need to comment about me wearing a mask when I am outside.
That’s what happened to me on the weekend as I was heading towards the Safeway store in Kensington plaza. I had just parked and I put my mask on before getting out of my vehicle. It’s just a habit at this point. But as I was heading to the store, some dude (why is it always a dude?) decided to comment by asking why I had a mask on outside.
“You don’t have to wear it outside,” the dude said.
“Why don’t you mind your own business,” was my curt reply. Seriously. Mind. Your. Own. Bloody. Business. If I want to wear the mask outdoors, I’ll wear the mask outdoors. If you don’t, you be you.
Then he flipped out. Like really.
“Get that diaper off your face – stop being scared by this nonsense,” he screamed.
A bunch of other people in the parking lot looked over, confused to hear someone yelling about diapers.
It’s bad enough that some guys feel they have to be so nosy, but to flip out about it is ridiculous. And sad.
But this is where we are at.
Frankly, I feel lucky it wasn’t worse.
Vancouver police said on Tuesday that a person allegedly threatened a grocery store worker with a meat cleaver in the downtown area on Monday (Jan. 3) morning.
A staff member in a Robson street grocery store noticed that the suspect wasn't wearing a mask and asked him to put one on. In response, the man allegedly pulled a knife and threatened the worker; he also allegedly left the store without paying for his groceries.
Yikes.
Omicron is raging like a wildfire because it is so contagious and so I like being even more cautious.
Over a three-day period, the B.C. government reported on Monday 9,332 new cases of COVID-19.
The breakdown was as follows:
- Dec. 31, 2021 - Jan. 1, 2022: 4,033 new cases
- Jan. 1-2, 2022: 3,069 new cases
- Jan. 2-3, 2022: 2,230 new cases
The new infections bring the total number of cases since the pandemic began to 264,181.
The new cases include:
- 4,859 new cases in Fraser Health
- 1,797 new cases in Vancouver Coastal Health
- 1,185 new cases in Interior Health
- 1,117 new cases in Island Health
- 374 new cases in Northern Health
The ministry indicated on Friday that there were 220 infectious COVID-19 patients in B.C. hospitals, including 73 in intensive care.
Things are set to get even worse and so I’m going to take every precaution I can – even if that means wearing a diaper, you clown.
- With files from Rob Gibson, Castanet, and Elana Shepert, Vancouver is Awesome
Follow Chris Campbell on Twitter @shinebox44.
