Ditching the mask: 'Go slow,' experts caution Top Searches Ditching the mask: 'Go slow,' experts caution Chidanand Rajghatta / TNN / Updated: May 19, 2021, 22:44 IST FacebookTwitterLinkedinEMail People walk down a street in Encinitas, as California Governor Gavin Newsom said his state would keep its mask order in place for another month (Reuters) WASHINGTON: More than 15 months after the novel coronavirus raged across the country, data-driven Americans are still coming to grips with personal and public health protocols to keep the virus at bay as the country races to meet the best known counter: fully vaccinating its population. Norms relating to masks, social distancing, and personal protection mandates are constantly being revised in what has become a learning process even for scientists and researchers. Among the latest startling updates: the ubiquitous plexiglass barrier is not such a good idea after all.