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Tired of not seeing your friends? Me too! Not that I’m the most social person in the world but you certainly realize how much you rely on getting out and seeing people in a social way. That's why I’m glad to know the vaccine is making its rounds. My mom already has received it and my son is scheduled for his second round in a week. But it’s hard to know exactly what life after the vaccine will be like, and whether we can really get back to socializing with or without social distancing.
Where we were one year ago: Social distancing becoming a thing
"Stay out of crowds" and "avoid public places" was the general sentiment when the pandemic began. We were introduced to this concept, and the science behind it of "six feet apart." Everywhere you went, checkout lines and entry lines had tape marking off exactly where you could stand to safely wait. I’ll admit, in the early days I was a bit paranoid of those who cramped my six-foot radius.
Shortly after social distancing became the norm, we were told to wear masks when in public. This would help reduce the spread of COVID from asymptomatic people. For me, six feet is a lot easier than the mask. Sure, I wear mine but I can’t wait for the day I’m told that it isn’t necessary.
While social distancing and mask wearing became standards, so did avoiding social gatherings. Depending on your state, you may have had mandates for things like avoiding groups of five or more people or anyone outside of your household. The idea was simple — reduce opportunities for the virus to spread from household to household. Some people were better at this than others, especially around holidays.
“I remember being so sad at Easter. Being able to go to a big Easter egg hunt with my daughter was something I looked forward to and couldn’t do because of the restrictions," toddler mom Jana Bates told Mom.com. "It was really hard.” Her sentiments were echoed by parents across the country.
Where we are now: Pandemic anniversary changing norms
By now, we’ve all gotten used to the social distancing thing and new information is coming to light that three feet might actually be okay for social distancing. This is what the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending for school reopenings.
When it comes to socializing, part of the problem is that many places have not reopened for socializing. You still can’t walk into a bar or sit at the coffee shop in many places. But the CDC does say that small gatherings are okay. They recommend making those gatherings outside, wearing masks, and properly social distancing. Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands regularly as well.
These guidelines mean that many can have a playdate at the park or host a backyard barbecue with friends. Just remember to limit help yourself food items like buffets — entrust one person to dish things out or offer individually packaged servings for things like soft drinks and water.
Going forward: Can you go out after the vaccination?
Moving forward is something that I think we are all ready for. “After a year of spending so much time at home, society as a whole seems ready to get back to some normalcy again — seeing friends and family in person, eating out at restaurants, traveling, scheduling playdates, kids returning to school, etc,” marriage and family therapist Heidi McBain told Mom.com.
While she nails the sentiment we all feel, it still begs the question as to whether or not you can go out after the vaccination and to what degree. There seems to be some differing opinions on exactly what you can and can’t do. According to Daniel C. DeSimone, M.D. on the Mayo Clinic website, you can visit other fully vaccinated people without wearing a mask or social distancing. You may also visit unvaccinated people from the same household who are considered low risk.
Of course, everyone’s comfort level with being in public places with strangers will be a personal choice. As parents, we know by now that protecting our families is our responsibility and not everyone in the community is on board with our version of safe standard practices. With that said, Dr. Anthony Fauci recommends that mask usage will still be important after vaccination. In other words, we aren’t out of the woods just yet. Be safe and healthy!
