It's 2024. Covid is no longer that much worse than the flu. Unless you have some condition, you don't need to mask anymore. Covid is still a thing, yes, and masks still help, but it's not going away, we're better prepared for it, and it's evolving to be more infectious and less lethal.

It's really hard to find data by year, but the second graph on this page is close enough: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid_weekly/index.htm

So yeah, wear a mask if you want, but don't shame others for refusing to do so.

[–] andthenthreemore@startrek.website 17 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Covid is no longer that much worse than the flu.

People bandy about that it's no worse than flu as though that's like saying it's no worse than a bad cold. Flu still kills thousands each year and will knock you on your arse for a fortnight.

evolving to be more infectious and less lethal

It was already around 3 times more infectious than the flu. If it's getting more infectious and is still just not that much worse than the flu we're in for a rough time.

[–] DonPiano@lemmy.ca 14 points 8 months ago

And let's not forget about playing long-covid roulette every time you get infected!

[–] Specal@lemmy.world 15 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Masks help preventing spread, they help a little to stop you from catching it but it's more about spread prevention, refusing to wear one because YOU'LL be okay is selfish.

I won't shame you for it, but I am making you aware that you're being selfish.

[–] KreekyBonez@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago

also helps to slow mutations. more spread means more generations of mutable virus.

[–] Sotuanduso@lemm.ee 0 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Well I assumed that wearing a mask and/or staying home if you actually have covid is a given, but I guess with some people's jobs that's not exactly the case.

[–] Specal@lemmy.world 9 points 8 months ago

I'll repeat what has been said about COVID consistently on all news sources across the globe.

You can be asymptomatic, not knowing you have it, and spread it. Wearing a mask around people that are vulnerable protects them even if you feel okay.

[–] v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 13 points 8 months ago (2 children)

Covid is not entirely over, though. People can still die from it if unvaccinated

[–] Sotuanduso@lemm.ee 9 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Yeah, and the death rate is still higher than the flu, but it's not nearly as bad as it was in the first two years.

Covid is not over, but the pandemic is.

[–] v4ld1z@lemmy.zip 2 points 8 months ago

No doubt

[–] Reddit_Is_Trash@reddthat.com 0 points 8 months ago

People die from obesity but we don't talk about that.

We can't prevent everyone from dying, and wanting to force everyone to wear a mask is not the answer. We've lived out whole lives not wearing them, and I'm not going to start now