Outside Without a Mask On in Massachusetts [PHIL-OSOPHY]

First signs are significant, like the first sign of spring for instance. First impressions are of great importance, too. The beneficial feelings that come with first signs are powerful deep down inside.

That said, the government needs to give the people a first sign as well. A kind of sign that will begin to open the door to a post-pandemic state. Everyday people are ready to head towards the epilogue of this story.

Dr. Paul Sax, Clinical Director of Infectious Disease at Brigham and Women's Hospital, agrees that it's time to drop the face masks when we're outdoors. Brown University School of Public Health Dean Dr. Ashish Jha tweeted that getting COVID-19 outdoors is rare, except with large crowds. They say it was known in medical circles for a year that outdoor transmission of COVID was infrequent and rare.

The best thing government can do is end the outdoor mask mandate, or requirement, or whatever they call it. To refresh your memory, Gov. Charlie Baker pushed on us the statewide mask mandate back in November, calling for people to wear masks outdoors as well as indoors, even when there's no one around.

From a public health mindset to a state government angle, it's best for Gov. Baker to follow New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu and declare that it's safe again to walk outside without a mask on.

Phil Paleologos is the host of The Phil Paleologos Show on 1420 WBSM New Bedford. He can be heard weekdays from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. Contact him at phil@wbsm.com and follow him on Twitter @PhilPaleologos. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.