In US, pandemic’s end is in sight. Are Americans ready?

Brooke McDonald’s walk to work begins at her dorm on Boston College’s campus. The school maintains specific safety rules for its students, including an outdoor mask mandate. So as she exits, her mask stays on. 

But as she rounds Chestnut Hill Reservoir and enters Brighton, those rules expire. Per updated state orders, face coverings are no longer required outdoors in Massachusetts. If she wanted to, Ms. McDonald could doff her mask the rest of the way to Cityside Tavern, where she works as a server. 

Walk two more blocks east, though, and the rules change again. Despite CDC guidance, the neighboring town of Brookline chose to maintain its universal mandate. Socially distanced or not, Ms. McDonald would need to mask up once more.

Risk tolerance differs by area“Endings tend to be messy”