After only being able to see people’s eyes for over a year, it’s pretty hard to think that we’re well on our way to returning to the norm. If anything, masks have more or less become the standard - being unmasked when out of the house almost seems like a foreign experience.

In California, the efficiency of the vaccine distribution method, in contrast with the stagnancy of new coronavirus cases, demonstrates a positive trend depicting a state that is well on its way to full vaccination.

Similarly, Governor Newsom announced that schools would be fully open for in-person instruction following California’s removal from the tier system on June 15th.

When seeing California as a scaled-down model of the United States, it comes as little surprise that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has recently released an official announcement stating that masks will no longer be required indoors for those who have been fully vaccinated.

However, this brings new concerns into light as people find themselves unwilling-despite complaining about masks the entire year-to fully reintegrate the lower halves of their faces into society.

Christina Park, a student at the California Academy of Mathematics and Sciences (CAMS), has expressed her hesitancy on taking off her mask. “Even if the CDC has changed their guidelines, I think that I will probably wear a mask for a while. Even after the pandemic ends, I would still be concerned,” Park said. Similarly, Michelle Yoo, a Northwood High School student, stated, “vaccines don’t guarantee protection and we still don’t know much information about them and even COVID-19 itself.”

These parallel sentiments are indicative of the vague optimism that has been normalized over the course of the pandemic.

It would be idealistic to the point of naivete if we were to expect a full return to pre-COVID social culture as soon as the CDC drops new legislation, but at the same time, we must take into consideration that said announcement was made for a reason. In the end, it comes down to a matter of trust. Do we trust the members of our community enough to lower our shields-both figuratively and literally-and make our debut as a reunited, post-pandemic world?

<Irene Lee / Northwood HS 11th Grade>