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# The New Normal
- URL: https://birchtree.me/blog/the-new-normal/
- Published: 2022-02-25T12:15:00.000Z
- Updated: 2022-02-25T12:15:00.000Z
- Author: Matt Birchler
- Tags: covid-19, Links, #Import 2023-06-01 22:41, #Import 2025-03-29 19:29

[New Harris polling](http://theharrispoll-8654532.hs-sites.com/the-insight-latest-trends-from-the-harris-poll-4?ecid=ACsprvtEfzom5E9Pd6%5FgAbAkOlhZYDicVuNeXc6GlHZiyyYdWNpz28eBCnCOdV6Mq1SHmJ0yjZXt&utm%5Fcampaign=The%20Insight%20COVID%20Tracker&utm%5Fmedium=email&%5Fhsmi=204751317&%5Fhsenc=p2ANqtz-8-FLZ5k7WUjCmBp64XtGWL6fQ%5FuKVXbHZTrEa6mO2G7caiKZKBpaNHz-o4%5F9VvK2i7vncDrhGoehewmcIZ9y83tdw%5FHg&utm%5Fcontent=204751317&utm%5Fsource=hs%5Femail) shows some pretty striking numbers:

- 55% of Americans think it's time to start lifting indoor mask mandates
- 70% of Americans will continue to mask up if they think people around them are unvaccinated
- 71% of Americans think Covid-19 is a part of life now

Add to this some [good news](https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/21/health/covid-vaccine-antibodies-t-cells.html?ref=birchtree.me) about the effectiveness of extended protection from variants of Covid-19 and I'm starting to feel better about public health than I have in a long time. Yes, it's probably time to start lifting mask mandates in most places, but I think many people still will wear one in situations where they feel they'd value extra protection (from or for others, either way).

And maybe most importantly from a mental health and planning perspective, 71% of Americans recognize Covid isn't going away soon, we're just dealing with it in increasingly effective ways.