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Family has been N95 masking since start. Do the statistics of long covid support always masking or can we relax rules for small indoor meetings with family/friends? What are reasonable precautions for seniors 70+ vs young adults in 30s? How do I balance mental and social interactions for seniors vs long covid risks?
Reasonable precautions are subject to interpretation when some individuals can tolerate some risk and others tolerate no risk. So, the facts are that Covid is still circulating and there is a newer variant (NB.1.8.1) that has recently been detected in the U.S. and which may possibly cause a summer-time surge in cases (though that does not necessarily translate to surges in hospitalizations and deaths). Also, the current rate of Covid in the U.S. is that it is still responsible for 200 deaths per week.
On the other hand, people who have been vaccinated (especially up to date with vaccinations) are less likely to have severe illness or get long-Covid symptoms. You can also control the environment by making sure the indoor space is well-ventilated (i.e., opening windows and using fans to move the air) or improve air purity (i.e., air filters). If everyone is conscientious in ensuring that persons in the gathering have not had recent close contact with others that have been ill, then that also is very helpful to reduce the risk that someone is infectious.
Ultimately, balancing the mental and social interactions is a formula that all partakers in the gathering must accept. There are huge health advantages to gathering together in person and continuing to build connections and the sense of community, so I do not want fear and anxiety to overwhelm the clear positive reasons to have social interactions. Good luck!
