This week the CDC announced that "the science" now shows that those of us who are vaccinated against Covid-19 no longer have to wear masks either indoors or out. I don't know what "the science" has changed but I am glad that it did. Now it is going to be very interesting to see what and when changes are made to state and local rules and to how businesses respond to them.

Here in Washington State, Governor Jay Inslee announced that all counties can now move to the more open Stage Three (four counties were in Stage Two) and that the state would remove all restrictions on June 30. He also said that the restrictions would be removed earlier if the number of adults who were fully vaccinated reached the 70% level.

So that brings us to businesses. Most still require customers to wear masks. But I expect this to change and rapidly. Now that some major retailers have relaxed their mask requirement the rest will follow quickily. Walmart, Costo, Trader Joes, and Publix Markets were among the first.

Local stores are much more in-tune with local markets and shoppers. This is case where the marketplace decides. Are customers going to keep coming to (and wearing masks at) the local Ace Hardware when they don't at Lowes. I doubt it.

Pharmacy chains like Walgreens who offer Covid-19 vaccinations, counterintuitively aren't chaning their requirments... yet. Will the local pharmacies wait for more leadership from the big guys ? We'll see.

Stores that have unique customer followings like Starbucks and Apple Store aren't changing their policies. Their customers seem be willing to follow the rules because there seems to be some sort of cachet to be a Starbuck or Apple Store customer. I don't get it.

When businesses relax mask requirements it will be for all people, not just the the vaccinated. Stores and restaurants cannot be expected to be the mask police. They cannot be expected to query all those who enter their premises as to vaccination status. Governments have chosen not to create a positive identification passport indicating full vaccination status. This point will become moot when all restrictions are lifted next month (in Washington)

Frankly, I wish those who aren't vaccinated won't wear masks. Some of them will be helping end the pandemic by contracting Covid-19. Herd immunity (the goal) can only be achieved through a combination of vaccinations and infections.