I'd like to point out to anyone who thinks that "you do you" public health is sustainable that it's illegal to wear a mask in many public places in the US. This has only been on hold because of the emergency declaration and that's about to end.
For example, let me introduce you to my local law in Florida. Florida State statute 876.12:
Wearing mask, hood, or other device on public way.—No person or persons over 16 years of age shall, while wearing any mask, hood, or device whereby any portion of the face is so hidden, concealed, or covered as to conceal the identity of the wearer, enter upon, or be or appear upon any lane, walk, alley, street, road, highway, or other public way in this state.
This law was pointed out to my wife by a law enforcement officer who really wanted to arrest her for wearing a mask in a grocery store last year.
If you think you're going to be able to avoid COVID after the end of the emergency declaration you'd better be a full on hermit who never has to venture out.
When an immunocompromised person is denied access to the sidewalk, that should make for some interesting legal arguments. It's bound to happen very soon, and then the ADA will lead to the Courts voiding that law.
It's also an opportunity. I would be making the political ads early, while it's still fresh in people's minds.
I know things get buried in all of the comments and replies, but it has been used *prior* to the pandemic, according to academic papers, against people using masks for allergies or chemical sensitivities. I have no reference on any case law, nor do I know whether any's been brought. That's really way outside of my wheelhouse.
In the end, this example or others, I just am trying to point out to people that they've spent their entire pandemic time in an emergency declaration and probably haven't thought through all of the way what ending it means.
