I went out today. I walked into a coffee shop wearing an N95 & goggles and ordered takeaway coffee and pastry. There were two workers behind the counter and another customer, all maskless. As my body turned to leave, my brain had other ideas. 1/ I turned back around and blurted out:

"You guys should all be wear quality masks you know,"

There was silence and a lot of staring - me staring at each of them, them staring back at me. The worker who served me then said:

"It's not mandatory." 2/

Today, the doctor who told me if I didn't like how they ran their medical clinic (no masking) I could find another one, rang and apologised.

There were a few steps leading to the apology, but I didn't expect it when it came and it has jiggled my previous perspective. I had made another appointment for today (Mon) to get the blood results but the thought of going there breached my acceptable anxiety levels.

So I rang and asked if there was a doctor there who WOULD mask for an immunocompromised patient given Covid was increasing again. 2/

A few days ago I posted about how a new doctor told me if I didn't like the fact that they no longer masked-up at that clinic, I could find another clinic to go to.
1/ That post drew quite a number of similar horror stories by Covid Conscious people and a lot of animosity was revealed toward this laissez-faire attitude of not masking for the elderly or immunocompromised.
2/

This happened today. No exaggeration. I had an appointment with a brand new doctor today. After everything was attended to the Doc said: How’s your social life?

Me: It’s too dangerous for me to socialise because no-one masks anymore. Even going to the doctor is a risk now.
1/ Doc: We don't have to wear masks anymore here.

Me: I noticed.

Doc: (mildly defensive) We spent three years masking and we decided no more masking.

Me: So you wouldn’t consider wearing a mask if an immunocompromised patient like me asked you to?
2/

Yesterday I went to register a car. The place was packed, people lining the walls. I asked for the lady I saw a few days earlier:
"Oh, she's off sick."
"Covid?"
"No no no, she's got conjunctivitis and a really sore throat..."
I couldn't bring myself to utter the words "Arcturus" which, among other horrible symptoms, is distinguished from other variants by conjunctivitis and 'pink eye'. I felt deeply saddened by this news as I almost ran out of the place. Sat in my car for a while with a mix of emotions: rage (at official silence), horror (that it's here)