It’s been a whole day after Governor of Guam, Lou Leon Guerrero, lifted the all-COVID mandates. Yet, the mask is still clinging to the face.

As I drove my kids down to their bus in Paseo de Susan Park in Hagatña, my son, Shane, who was sitting in the front seat, blurted out: “There is no more requirement of the mask at school.”  This follows other restrictions that have recently been lifted, such as not requiring students to social distance outdoors.

But when I slowed to a complete stop, I smiled as I observed both he and her sister, AngieAnn, fished out their masks. They said their goodbyes and up, went the masks. I sat smiling as I watched them disappear out of sight. Even my own children, I thought, they are part of the cautious crowd. 

See, starting yesterday, when it hit the papers, “‘We have reached our goal’: No more indoor mask mandate”, few have readily abandoned their mask.  Many, however, still let it dangle from their faces; the cautious ones. Asked why they don’t wear their masks anymore, the few would say it’s been lifted by the governor. In fact, it’s not necessary anymore.

But when you ask those still wearing masks, they say COVID is still out there. And it’s prudent to be cautious. In Fall of 2021, schools that resumed in-person instruction without requiring masks were 3.5 times more likely to endure COVID-19 outbreaks (Delta variant at the time) than schools with mask mandates. The whole island save a few, it seems, wants to be sure that when they take off their masks, the numbers are not going to rebound.

So the mask will come off, in time,

only slowly and surely.

But “order was clear, however, that businesses would be allowed to require masks, social distancing or other COVID-19 safety measures subject to local and federal law.

“‘Rescinding the mask mandate neither restricts individuals from continuing to wear a mask, nor prevents the practice of other mitigation strategies in public spaces,’ the governor said. ‘I encourage our community to continue to implement these strategies for themselves, in consideration of their circumstances and comfort level.’

“In addition, people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe illness are encouraged to continue wearing masks.”

It really is boiled down to the fact that some are tired, they just wanted everything COVID to be gone. So when the Governor sounded the alarm, all came off.

Faster than one could say, “COVID-19!”

But it’s not just Guam that’s seemed to be on the right path for a semi-normal summer. Many places around the globe, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, are heading in that direction.

“After downgrading the risk level of many of the world’s top destinations last week, in conjunction with an overhaul of its travel assessments, the CDC added just one location to its ‘high’ risk category on Monday —  a tiny Caribbean island of Saba.”

Dr. William Lang, WorldClinic medical director and former White House deputy physician, added to the growing positivity: “I’m optimistic for everybody being able to get back to normal activities over the summer.”

So, the expert votes are in: play it safe and you will be rewarded with a summer certain to be COVID-free. And if you must, just keep exercising the basics: vaccines, boosters, proper handwashing and masks. 

However, Federated States of Micronesia, an ultra careful country, the one of 10 COVID-free countries in the world, is right on the heels of Guam.

It will follow suit in August.