Does anyone at this coffee shop not have COVID? Maybe I’m stuck in the pandemic mindset, but if you’re coughing and blowing your nose repeatedly in public, stay home please. Sitting outside now. 🙂

@manton

Not to mention influenza, RSV and just a plain old cold. Nobody wants their holidays ruined by catching any of that 🤬.

{psa•••
#MaskUp and curb outings when sick! You’ll help society out and get better quicker too.
}

@manton I haven't sat inside a restaurant or cafe for a long time for just that reason. It's just disgusting, especially when people cough without covering their mouths. That's what elbows were invented for!

@manton I’m keenly aware (as I’m sure a lot of us are) of anyone coughing, sneezing, wheezing or the like in public, but I am also VERY aware of when I do it. Allergies here in CENTEX are no joke right now…but I’ve had COVID twice too…

@manton Sitting outside is better for your health anyway, because of fresh air and sunlight. Take care to avoid drafts, though.

@manton I'm my elderly, vulnerable mom's care-giver. We haven't gone anywhere outside the apartment except for medical stuff, or for me to pick up groceries in front of the building, since 2029. It's a senior community; no one but me is still masking. Multiple waves of covid, flue, etc.

@manton Don't worry -- they all may just have the flu! (cough)

@manton I feel like a hypocrite now as I sneezed. Sigh. 😷

@manton Yup. Recently on Facebook, I stumbled across a photo that was taken at a business dinner in 2016. I remembered that trip--I had a terrible cold or mild flu, but I thought the dinner was important, so I doped up on over-the-counter meds and went out. I can't imagine doing something like that today.

@manton It is not always that simple. You should see the dirty looks we get when we take our son out. His allergies and asthma have been out of control for months, he is not sick but people sure do seem to think we are tying to kill them.

@zoglesby That's a good point. For kids, I never assume they are sick with anything contagious. Sorry you've gotten some bad looks. 🙁

@zoglesby @manton this is a very important point. When it is cold out my nose always runs, so that when I come inside I blow my nose a few times before in calms down. But I am not sick. At the same time I am also very aware of coughing and sneezing in public now.

@mejh @manton Masks have done a huge number on our immune systems, especially children. They were necessary, of course, but now even the slightest cold hits like a freight train.

@pimoore the kids immune systems are ok btw. It’s not masks that are the cause of the current issues.

www.insider.com/why-kids-... publichealth.jhu.edu/2022/is-t...

@muhh Thanks for those links, they were interesting to read.

@pimoore Masks were already normal in Malaysia pre-Covid, but everyone has worn them everywhere for three years now. I’m interested to see how kids respond as restrictions have been lifted somewhat.