Some Iowans aren’t ready to unmask – KCCI Des Moines

Despite positive news in the fight against COVID-19 in Iowa, some are not yet ready to unmask.“I think we need to continue wearing masks,” said Claire Frances of Cedar Rapids. “The CDC was precocious on a national level.”KCRG reports many people like Frances and her son, Julien Moisan, have decided to take caution in removing their masks from their everyday life just yet.“I think we need to get more Iowans vaccinated before we can do that,” said Moisan.Psychologists at the University of Iowa said this was a trend they were starting to see despite businesses and communities lifting mask mandates across the state. “The people who were struggling have possibly been the ones who were still grieving the loss over a loved one,” said UIHC Clinical Assistant of Phycology, Stacey Pawlak. “A lot of people have been sick or have had a loved one get sick.”Dr. Pawlak said the masks brought people a tangible representation of safety. She recommended going at your own pace when it comes to not only taking off the mask but feeling safe getting the vaccine.“If you feel comfortable in wearing the mask, and you want to wear that, go ahead,” she said. “We have promoted vaccines, but I think people need to do it at their own time.”She said it was OK to feel like this was too soon and for people, like Frances and Moisan, to feel comfortable wearing the mask until they were ready. “We just need more people to be vaccinated in Iowa,” said Moisan.

Despite positive news in the fight against COVID-19 in Iowa, some are not yet ready to unmask.

“I think we need to continue wearing masks,” said Claire Frances of Cedar Rapids. “The CDC was precocious on a national level.”

KCRG reports many people like Frances and her son, Julien Moisan, have decided to take caution in removing their masks from their everyday life just yet.

“I think we need to get more Iowans vaccinated before we can do that,” said Moisan.

Psychologists at the University of Iowa said this was a trend they were starting to see despite businesses and communities lifting mask mandates across the state.

“The people who were struggling have possibly been the ones who were still grieving the loss over a loved one,” said UIHC Clinical Assistant of Phycology, Stacey Pawlak. “A lot of people have been sick or have had a loved one get sick.”

Dr. Pawlak said the masks brought people a tangible representation of safety. She recommended going at your own pace when it comes to not only taking off the mask but feeling safe getting the vaccine.

“If you feel comfortable in wearing the mask, and you want to wear that, go ahead,” she said. “We have promoted vaccines, but I think people need to do it at their own time.”

She said it was OK to feel like this was too soon and for people, like Frances and Moisan, to feel comfortable wearing the mask until they were ready.

“We just need more people to be vaccinated in Iowa,” said Moisan.