Reply To: How Is The Pandemic Still Affecting Your Life?

[Community Member]

Another response mentioned anti-maskers. I have family members that think I’m over-reacting when I wear a mask, and when they comment, I simply retort that I’m not asking them to wear a mask. I’m wearing it to protect myself because I have no immune system.

Before Covid, I never wore a mask, even when I should have, like on planes (airlines don’t change their HEPA filters often enough) because I take Cellcept (immune suppressants). The pandemic only reinforced that I should take more precautions. I found the key is to avoid high touch environments, crowds and anywhere sick people go (e.g., labs, drug stores, doctor’s offices) and if I must go, I book for a less busy time or wear a N95 or level 3 ASTM mask.

Now I avoid high-touch environments like grocery stores and enclosed, busy spaces. I get groceries and other items delivered. I wear a N95 mask on planes and airports. I usually avoid air travel and public transportation in favour of my own vehicle.

If a family member is sick, we skip Sunday dinner. If I’m sick, I stay home, run my HEPA air cleaner on high with a fresh filter and stick to my spaces (separate floor from my son who lives with me), and take precautions (mask, use wipes, etc.) if he must go through my part of the house. He has his own floor with a second large HEPA air cleaner.

Even when I’m not sick, I meet friends on outdoor patios, or when restaurants are less busy. I plan trips for first thing in the morning at places with large spaces so air exchange has been working overnight. My son goes to the drug store for me. I wear a mask in any medical facility. I wear a mask and go to a private gym that still limits the number of people in the gym and I go at the least busy time of day. I asked my physiotherapist’s office to call me to reschedule my appointment if they book a class around my regular time.

I’ve found that certain brands of Level 3 ASTM surgical masks and N95 medical masks are more breathable than others (e.g., Medpro works best for me), and some are better than the usual procedure mask that most people wear.