To the editor:

The CDC’s new COVID-19 mask guidance is a great idea, or would be if people were honest about whether they are fully-vaccinated. But we all know that many of them will not be.

A good indicator of how conscientious the unvaccinated are about wearing masks might be to compare the percentage of people you see indoors in places open to the public (like stores) to the percentage of unvaccinated adults in Houghton County. About 60% of adults in Houghton County have not been fully vaccinated, so at least 60% of the people you see in public indoor settings should be wearing masks. If most people you see aren’t wearing masks, chances are that a number of them are putting themselves and, more importantly, others at risk.

In issuing the new mask guidance the CDC failed to address the problems business owners and others would have telling which unmasked patrons are fully-vaccinated.

It falls upon the unvaccinated to play it safe when inside in places open to the public. Were I not fully-vaccinated I would not enter any business that doesn’t require masks to be worn. Others may simply choose to avoid businesses if they see that most patrons are not wearing masks.