Why do we have to wear masks at restaurants?

Got a question about COVID-19 and vaccines? Email Lois Solomon at AskLois@sunsentinel.com.

Q. “Why is a mask necessary to walk in to a restaurant/ bar when you immediately take it off when you’re in?” — Frederick

Mezger

A. This is something many of us have wondered, and Dr. Chad Sanborn, an infectious disease specialist at KIDZ Medical Services, which has offices throughout southern Florida, said he has thought about it, too.

“This is a question that doesn’t have an easy, logical answer but illustrates the difficulty that the public health community has to ponder when making recommendations,” he said.

We all know that if you are indoors and in close proximity to others, there is a higher chance of spreading COVID-19 if no one is wearing masks. At the same time, you can’t eat or drink with a mask on. A compromise had to be reached, he said. Thus most restaurants ask patrons to wear their masks until they reach their tables and when they get up again to use the restroom or for any other reason.

“It’s not any ‘safer’ to be in a restaurant/ bar within six feet of another person without a mask than it is anywhere else, obviously,” he said. “If public health authorities recommend that no one needs to wear a mask when going indoors at a restaurant or bar, then it would follow that other businesses (e.g., department stores, personal care establishments, supermarkets, etc.) would ask for the same recommendation.”

That would create a situation where no one is wearing masks indoors anywhere, Sanborn said, allowing COVID-19 to continue its relentless spread.

Q. “I have a question about the data reported on the percentage of Floridians who have been

vaccinated. Is it based on total population or the total people eligible to be vaccinated?” — Mark Smith, Coral Springs

A. It’s based on total population. So as of May 5, 11.66% of all Floridians, including those not eligible, such as children, had received their first dose, and 30.42% had received their full series. The calculations use population data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 estimates.

Q. “I had my first Pfizer vaccine on April 20. From that night onwards I’ve been in excruciating pain. Over the counter meds were not helping. On April 26, I went to the emergency room where the doctor diagnosed me with SIRVA (Shoulder Injury Related to Vaccine Administration). I’m still in pain with limited motion in my shoulder; doctors’ appointments are lined up and I’m hoping to get some relief soon. I’m uninsured so everything is self-pay. Any information you can give me would be greatly appreciated.” — Sherieann

Badal

A. What a devastating story. It sounds like the person who gave you your vaccine injected you in the wrong spot, said Dr. Joanna Drowos, an associate professor at Florida Atlantic University’s medical school.

“SIRVA is caused by the injection of a vaccine into the shoulder capsule rather than the deltoid muscle,” she said. “As a result, inflammation of the shoulder structures such as the bursae, tendons or ligaments causes pain, a decreased range of motion, and a decreased quality of life. It would be important to figure out exactly what specific problem is causing shoulder pain in your case, for example it may be bursitis, rotator cuff tears, or adhesive capsulitis. Treatment for SIRVA is the same as treatment for other routine shoulder inflammatory injuries. Depending on which diagnostic testing was performed while you were in the emergency room, this may already be established.”

Drowos said you should keep a copy of all your medical records so you don’t have to repeat diagnostic testing when you see a new doctor. She also said it’s important to have a physician who is familiar with your case directing your care.

“If insurance is a barrier, you may consider a community health center that offers a sliding fee scale,” she said. “If you are able to pay out of pocket, an orthopedic surgeon or sports medicine specialist may be able to provide definitive treatment.”

Report the injury to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS), a national early warning system to detect possible safety problems in vaccines. Go to vaers. hhs.gov/reportevent.html. There is a also a Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP) created to provide remuneration for serious injuries from vaccinations, medications, medical devices or other items recommended during a pandemic or security threat. Instructions are at hrsa.gov/cicp.

Q. “If a cruise ship says that 95% of the passengers need to be vaccinated, how will they handle children under 16? Does that mean that Royal Caribbean won’t allow kids? I would love a kid-free cruise.” — Pam Anderson

A. Your dream of a kid-less Royal Caribbean cruise may not come to pass. Although adult passengers and crew have to be vaccinated, travelers under 18 will be allowed as long as they test negative for COVID-19.

The news on vaccines for kids is evolving almost daily, and it might force some cruise lines to modify their policies. Teens who are 16 and older can now get the Pfizer vaccine. And the Pfizer shot may be approved in the coming days for kids who are 12 and older.

If you’re looking for cruises that are banning young kids because there are no vaccines for them yet, try Norwegian, which said: ”Minors who have not yet been eligible to be vaccinated will not be permitted to sail on these voyages. Minors who have been fully vaccinated are welcome to sail.”

Norwegian said it will keep this policy for all sailings through Oct. 31. Or look into Virgin Voyages, an adults-only cruise line set to debut in Florida in September.

Q. “I had the Pfizer shot in Canada. May I have the second dose in Florida if I provide proof of the first dose? I own a condo in Fort Lauderdale and am a seasonal resident. A close friend is in the hospital and I would like to visit him and care for him after he returns home.” — Jennifer Louise McDonald, Meaford, Ontario

A. This shouldn’t be a problem. Florida has lifted proof of residency requirements at pharmacies and state and federal vaccination sites. But you would have met the residency requirement anyway as you own your Fort Lauderdale condo. Just make sure the site you choose is offering Pfizer second doses.

Q. “Can I get sun or go to the beach the day I get my second vaccine?” — A.

Boloy, Palm City

A. Yes! As long as you feel up to it. Although you are not considered fully vaccinated until two weeks after the second dose, going to the beach is usually a socially distanced activity where you don’t get too close to other people. As you wait for those two weeks to pass, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still wants you to avoid crowds, wear a mask and wash your hands often. But you are pretty safe with outdoor activities, where the wind keeps airborne particles moving and humidity and sunlight work to deactivate the virus.