As 2023 draws to an end, with promises of holiday parties and crowds and lots of inadvertent exchanges of shared air, mask-wearing is much more off than on around the country even as COVID s long tail lingers. The days of anything approaching a widespread mask mandate would be like the Ghost of Christmas Past, a glimpse into what was.
As 2023 comes to a close, face mask usage in America has become situational and less prevalent, despite the ongoing presence of COVID-19. The article explores the shift in mask-wearing norms, highlighting regional variations, individual choices, and the emergence of new reasons for mask usage.