‘I’m still vulnerable’: Why some in the Triangle are wearing masks again
As another omicron subvariant sweeps North Carolina and the United States, many are deciding to mask up again, or to continue masking even if it’s not mandated.
BA.5, currently the most dominant strain in the United States, is the most transmissible variant of COVID-19 to date, infecting even those who have a level of immunity due to vaccination or previous COVID infection.
BA.5 infections make up an increasing proportion of positive COVID-19 cases in North Carolina, rising from 11% of cases at the start of June to 38% at the end of the month, according to the most recent data from the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.
“I’m very concerned about the variant,” said elementary school teacher Latoya Royster, 36, who sported a mask while shopping in Crabtree Valley Mall. COVID-19 “is still out here. Everyone should be cautious.”
Even after schools stopped requiring masks this past academic year, Royster said she continued to mask.
Hannah Page, 39, who teaches history at Raleigh Charter High School, also decided to continue masking, both in and outside the classroom.
“These new omicron variants continue to pose a risk to many,” she said, though she added that she was not more concerned about the latest variant than she has been throughout the pandemic. “As far as masking indoors goes, it doesn’t feel like enough of an inconvenience for me to not do it.”
As the pandemic evolves, Page, who wore a cloth mask while grocery shopping at Harris Teeter Monday, said she plans to keep assessing whether to continue wearing a mask.
“If there’s a little way in which [masking] might continue to protect me or those around me, or help us continue to get in a better place with the pandemic along with vaccinations, then I’m willing to keep doing it,” she said.
Renee Young-Williams, 52, and her family have continued to mask up indoors throughout the pandemic. And now with cases of monkeypox also appearing in the state, Young-Williams said she’s planning to continue masking.
“I just feel safer this way,” she said. “I want to make sure everyone in my household is good.”
Jacqueline Jones, 84, has asthma. And though she’s vaccinated and double-boosted, she decided to continue wearing a mask, especially in light of the new subvariant.
“With the new disease that’s coming out, I just want to be extra careful,” she said.
Still, Jones said she was not more concerned about BA.5 than she was about other variants, and she plans to go on a cruise at the end of August while being extra cautious. “Even if I do get it, it’s not like a death sentence,” she said.
Lattie Baker, 77, of Southeast Raleigh, is a prostate cancer survivor and has diabetes and high blood pressure. He has been cautious throughout the pandemic, electing to wear masks when indoors for a period of time.
“Just trying to be careful,” he said, wearing an N95 mask in Harris Teeter. “COVID-19 is going to be around for awhile, so just taking precautions.”
Larry Snead, 63, wore masks “religiously” up until he was boosted, after which he “got a little slack.” But after he and his wife contracted COVID-19 around four weeks ago, he decided to start masking up again when indoors.
Testing positive “let me know that I’m still vulnerable, and people are still vulnerable to the variants,” he said, wearing an N95 mask in Crabtree Valley Mall. “For the protection of my family, I wore this mask.”
Snead, who is a pastor at Christ First Christian Fellowship Center in Raleigh, added that his church continues to mandate mask-wearing.
“Until they come up with a more targeted vaccine for the omicron variants that are out here,” he said, “I’m probably going to continue wearing masks until I’m sure the probability of getting COVID again is cut way down.”
Molly Hess, 56, said she’s worn a mask every time she’s been in a public space indoors since the pandemic began.
At first, she exercised extra caution because she helped care for her elderly in-laws, who remained at higher risk even after being vaccinated. Now, she’s just in the habit of masking up.
“I’m not bothered by wearing a mask like some people might be,” she said.
