Even though I’ve been vaccinated against COVID-19, I still adhere to the rules of whatever store I enter. If they want a mask, I’m not going to make a scene, scream about my rights or babble on about microchips, Bill Gates or lizard people. I’ll just wear the mask. That’s the choice the business has made, and I can respect it. If the business doesn’t require the mask, I’ll probably wear one anyway, because I have a child at home too young to be vaccinated, and even the remote risk that I can bring COVID-19 into my house is one I’m not willing to make. That’s my choice.
So I can respect and understand the decision that FSIS has made to try and keep its inspectors safe – to a point. This week, the Food Safety and Inspection Service has mandated that all federally inspected establishments must require their employees or contractors to wear masks when IPP (inspection program personnel) are present, if the establishment is located in a county with “substantial” or “high” community transmission of COVID-19. Looking at the latest graphs from the CDC COVID data tracker, that would include pretty much every county in the United States except for a few places in the Midwest. Congratulations, Nebraska, you seem to be the only state in the Union that’s doing a good job.