observations after exiting 3+4 quarantine July 2022
Taipei: 998 out of 1000 people wear masks outside. Tightly, not only fully covering noses but without any gaps whatsoever. More like surgeons entering a clean room, than urban scooter riders or construction workers toiling in 95-degree heat. One must be some kind of sociopath to consider showing one's mouth to strangers. Sure, mandatory temperature checks and hand sprays are important before entering an enclosed space, and registering your contact details is useful for test-and-trace.
New York: masks are obviously "hygiene theater" especially outside, where UV light, fresh air, and distance mean that coronavirus becomes difficult to spread. One must be some kind of freak to keep a mask on while talking to other parents in the schoolyard. (Or maybe you're just an immigrant bike delivery guy, who can't afford to miss work if sick, and then it's okay to keep the cloth mask tight.) Your phone has privacy-preserving exposure notifications ...
