Created: April 25, 2021 06:41 PM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) In Upstate NY, with warmer weather comes outdoor activities like festivals, sporting events, and barbecues.
As of Sunday, nearly 50% of Monroe County has been
vaccinated or partially vaccinated, which is giving a lot of people hope for a return to normal this summer. In anticipation of warmer summer weather, there’s been some confusion about whether or not it’s still necessary to wear a mask outdoors once you’ve been vaccinated. We re sending messages of optimism and saying ‘hey we re around the corner,’” says Dr. Emil Lesho, infectious disease doctor with Rochester Regional Health. “At the same time you have people like me saying well, continue to do… so which is it? So we acknowledge it s a confusing message.”
click to enlarge PHOTO CREDIT WXXI NEWS
Some local schools are easing into in-person learning after a year of remote classes, and while the shift comes with some risks, health officials said simple precautions can help protect students and school staff.
The number of COVID-19 cases has been on an upward trend among younger residents in Monroe County for the past few weeks. County Public Health Commissioner Dr. Michael Mendoza has attributed that increase to spring break activities, competitive ice hockey which has since been suspended and the presence of the U.K. variant, which is more transmissible though not more deadly.
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Do you have to wear a mask outside if you’re around other people?
That has been a growing question- one that Centers for Disease Control officials say they will be exploring in the coming days.
At least 50% of the population in several counties in the region have received the vaccine. That said there’s a lot of mixed messaging out there- which was acknowledged by Dr. Emil Lesho, infectious disease doctor with Rochester Regional Health.
Lesho says wait until there’s more information if you’re going to be within 6 feet of others outdoors. If you’re alone, or remaining socially distant- the mask can be ditched. Other experts say that who has, or hasn’t been vaccinated plays a role, too.
Max Schulte / WXXI News
This Earth Day, environmentalists called attention to the pollution caused by disposable face masks.
The marine conservation organization Oceans Asia estimates that 1.5 billion of them ended up in the world s oceans in 2020. Most disposable masks are made from multiple types of plastic. It makes it virtually impossible to actually recycle, so it s very difficult to dispose of in an environmentally friendly manner, said Mike Waller, Rochester Regional Health s director of sustainability.
Waller recommends that people choose reusable masks when possible or opt for disposable masks made from natural fibers such as hemp.
Hospitals and other health care settings rely on disposable masks that have been tested to meet certain safety standards.
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