Whitney Spotts closes her windows when her neighbors start mowing their lawns. Spotts suffers from severe allergies, and spring is especially challenging for her as cottonwood trees bloom and grass grows. "It's a horrible Catch-22 because I love the spring, I love spending time outside," Spotts said. "As soon as we start opening windows, my face goes nuts." Some days she finds her car coated in pollen, but says wearing a mask amid the COVID-19 pandemic has helped reduce her exposure. In fact, Spotts, the lead singer in the cover band Starfam, has been wearing a HEPA filter mask for years before concerts to stop her throat from getting itchy and sore.