Thrilled! It’s about time. Too soon. Relieved but nervous. How the CDC’s new mask guidelines made you feel — and how you told us you’d adapt your mask wearing

Chicago Tribune - 5/14/2021

When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention changed its recommendations Thursday on where fully vaccinated people need to wear masks, it unleashed a range of reactions from Tribune readers.

According to an unscientific online poll, most respondents said they were feeling optimism following the change describing their feelings with words like “excited,” “relieved,” “thrilled” and “It’s about time!” On the flip side, about a third of respondents expressed concern or confusion following the eased restrictions with responses like “Too soon,” “nervous,” “very disappointed” and “It feels too early.”

And a healthy number were stuck in the middle saying they felt “happy and confused,” “relieved but nervous” and “both happy and scared.”

Those sentiments played out in what respondents said about what types of activities they plan to stay masked and others where they plan to not wear them.

Below, a selection of what respondents said about mask wearing