And it worked.

而且這很有效。

Study after study has shown that when we implemented and followed mask mandates, cases fell.

一項又一項研究顯示，當人們遵守戴口罩規定時，確診數就會下降。

But now, those mandates are being lifted and guidance from public health experts is changing.

但現在相關命令已被取消，公衛專家面對疫情發表的指引也正在改變。

For many of us, it feels like we're headed towards a new phase in the pandemic, but it's not over.

對許多人來說，這感覺像是疫情正迎向新的階段，但其實一切還沒結束。

Not yet.

還沒有。

So, as we weather the third year with COVID-19, what do we do with the mask?

所以，在這個與 COVID-19 共存的第三年，我們該如何使用口罩呢？

Now, the ideal risk mitigation is to have everyone wearing masks.

理想中的風險緩解措施是每個人都戴上口罩。

But, of course, we're not going to wear masks all the time for the rest of our lives.

但當然，我們不會在餘生中一直戴著口罩。

Moving forward, it will be left more to individuals, in most settings, to decide whether they feel like they're at higher risk or it's a higher-risk setting where they wanna wear a mask.

接下來多數情況下，人們將可以自行判斷自己是否處於高風險或者是風險相對較高的環境中，從而決定是否戴上口罩。

Fortunately, evidence shows that masks still offer protection even if you're the only person wearing one.

幸運的是，證據表明，即使你是唯一戴著口罩的人，它仍能有效提供保護。

Especially N95 or KN95 types, which have proven to be exceptionally effective.

特別是 N95 或 KN95 型口罩，它們已被證明有顯著的防護效果。

This applies even if you're vaccinated and boosted.

即使你已接種疫苗及加強劑，這一點也適用。

Layering your protection can reduce your chance of a breakthrough infection.

多層保護可以減少突破性感染的機會。

What I would hope is that people would view masks as a wonderful, inexpensive medical intervention.

我希望人們能將口罩視為一種神奇且便宜的醫療手段。

So, when you're deciding whether or not to mask up, consider the weather.

當你在決定是否該戴口罩時，考慮氣象。

Not the real weather; pandemic weather, which can rapidly change from week to week.

不是真正的氣象，而是疫情的趨勢氣象，疫情可能會每週迅速變化。

If it's looking bad, you might want to bring an umbrella, as in, wear a mask.

如果天氣看起來不太好，也許你該帶一把雨傘，也就是說戴上口罩。

We're in an evolving situation; we have been since the beginning of 2020.

疫情正不斷發展演進，自 2020 年初以來一直如此。

But there are some principles we can follow here.

但有些我們可以遵循的原則。

Starting with assessing the case rates or hospitalizations around the community.

首先，評估社區周圍的病例數或住院率。

So, looking at cases per 100,000, you really want it to be at least under 10 per 100,000, ideally in single digits.

以每十萬個案例來看，理想上是希望數量至少低於十萬分之十。

And not just for one day, but you could look at something like the 7- or 14-day average for an area.

不僅單看一天的數據，你也可以看看該地區 7 至 14 天內平均數據等。

Luckily, you can find that data on a variety of websites, including the CDC, New York Times, Johns Hopkins, or even simply by searching on Google.

幸運的是，你可以在各種網站上找到這些數據，包括 CDC、紐約時報、約翰霍普金斯大學，甚至最簡單的直接在谷歌上搜尋。

These numbers will change depending on the location, and also, over time.

這些數字會因地點不同及時間推移而改變。

There's some evidence that COVID could eventually be seasonal like the flu, which means cases may drop in the spring or summer, only to spike again in the fall and winter.

證據表明 COVID 最終可能轉為季節性，像流感一樣。這意味著確診數可能會在春季或夏季下降，而秋季和冬季又再次飆升。

Next, it's important to consider the environment.

接下來，考慮環境也是很重要的。

Being outside is a really good start.

去戶外活動是個很好的開始。

We're heading into spring, and I think there will be less tendency to be indoors in crowded spaces, poorly ventilated spaces, for example.

現在正進入春天，我想人們比較不會傾向於待在室內擁擠空間，像是，通風不良的空間。

So that also helps with reduction of transmission.

這也有助於減少傳播。

But if you're indoors, you should take a few things into consideration.

但如果你在室內，你該考慮這幾件事。

Ventilation and the number of people, the size of the space, and then the times that you spend in that space ⏤ those are the main factors.

是否通風、人數、空間大小，還有你待在該空間的時間，這些都是重要因素。

A packed, indoor concert, for example, is going to be higher risk than going to a grocery store where the people are more spaced out.

比如，去擁擠的室內演唱會，將比人與人距離較遠的雜貨店風險更高。

And events or locations that are checking vaccination status or requiring a negative test are an even lower risk.

而去有檢查疫苗接種情況及需要陰性測試證明的活動或地點，風險則會更低。

But even then, you should consider one other factor: yourself.

但便如此，你也需要考慮另一個因素——你自己。

That includes assessing your own risk of severe disease and hospitalization and, possibly, even death. 

這包括評估自己將得到嚴重疾病和住院，甚至可能死亡的風險。

And that has to do, of course, with your underlying medical conditions ⏤ whether or not you're immunosuppressed, or whether or not you've been vaccinated and boosted.

這當然與你的潛在醫療條件有關，需評估你有沒有免疫抑制症，或是否接種過疫苗和加強劑。

Even if you yourself are low-risk, you should also consider how dangerous an infection would be for people closest to you.

即使你是低風險族群，也該考慮自己身邊的人感染後的風險。

We've learned a lot since the beginning of the pandemic, and you've heard it a thousand times: We're all in this together.

自疫情流行開始，我們已學到很多，你也一定聽過這句話無數次：「我們都在同一條船上。」

Your actions and decisions will continue to affect those around you.

你的行動及決定將繼續影響周遭的人。

If you are in one of those lower-risk categories and don't have to wear a mask in all those settings, understand that if the risk rises again, you might need to.

如果你屬於低風險族群，在這些情況下都不需戴口罩，要有心理準備，如果風險再次上升，你可能得再次戴起口罩。

We're not trying to stop every runny nose in the country.

我們並不是要將感染數降為零。

We're really trying to prevent people from going to the hospital, and we're trying to prevent our healthcare system from falling apart.

我們是想避免人們去醫院就診，以防止醫療保健系統崩潰。

In the meantime, be mindful and show some compassion for other people who may be masking up while you're not.

在此期間，請保持同理心，體諒那些可能需要戴著口罩的人。

Because your cloudy day may be someone else's hurricane.

因為在這場疫情中，你面對的陰天，對別人來說可能是場颶風。