Oh Jenn, I'm angry on your behalf for those family members. To do that is bad enough, and then to expect you to join them when they know your situation? Ignorant and selfish. It's bad enough from strangers, but from your own family is shocking.

We’re both vaccinated and double boosted. DH is highly vulnerable and I’m sure a 5 day course of Paxlovid would result in a boomerang case of really bad Covid. We wear masks on public transportation and in stores and other public places. Masks are required at church; we’ve only gone a few times. When we visited DD a month ago in Chicago we ate out a few times; otherwise we don’t eat out at all. A theater in our area shows NBA playoffs on their big screens but we won’t be attending this year.

Here in Austria all mask mandates are dropped as of yesterday. I am still masking, especially in public transport, packed elevators and big meetings, but it seems I am in minority. In Austria, second buster is only for 80+ years old and 65+ years old with health issues, so I don’t know anyone with 4th jab. At work we are about 90% vaccinated and boosted but still so many coworkers had it, must be more than a half. No masks in offices so no wonder. My husband, my son and me all had 3 vaccines and my 14 years old daughter was not eligible for booster yet when she caught COVID in April. We know exactly where she got it - indoor dining. She was in restaurant with her best friend and her dad who just flew in from London. 2 days later, she started complaining about sore throat and we did home test which was negative so we relaxed, and were not careful around her. Then day later we got the news that both her friend and her dad tested positive so we did PCR which came back positive too. At that point I did not know what to do - I was sure I got it too, but I tested negative, request WFH which was denied because they consider boosted people as not risky. 2 days later my son who had less contact with her than me started having symptoms and also tested positive. And I still had to go to the office, where people were staring at me for wearing a mask. I was doing it for them! So never assume why someone is wearing a mask and what are their circumstances. But fortunately I kept testing negative and to my surprise did not get it after all. And my husband also did not get it, so it seems kind of random. Only difference is that kids had Pfizer and hubby and me had Moderna.
My father who is very ill and bed ridden (hematologic disease) got it in January but was completely asymptomatic- he was tested to go to hospital for a treatment and that is how he found out. He must have got it from his caregivers who never wore a mask around my parents. That was before he got into a nursing home. And my mom who is also seriously ill (oncologic patient with diabetes, heart disease and Parkinsons) and was around him all the time, even sleeping in the same room, did not get it. Only difference between them is that my father didn’t have booster because it was contraindicated with his current treatment, and my mom had a booster just few weeks earlier.

Mask mandates have been dropped in our area, but many stores do not want you to come in without wearing a mask. Most of us still do. The hospital numbers are rising rapidly and the Boulder Camera newspaper says to stay home as much as you can and keep wearing masks, especially in schools. Gyms and places of worship are still the major places that are not safe. DH and I each have had two shots plus two boosters so four jabs. We have not been wearing masks outside walking in the neighborhood or around vaxed family members including grandchildren but do not think either of us has had Covid. More people seem to be wearing masks. No one has said anything to me but that may be my age and grey hair. Those with diabetes or other health problems usually die in the hospital. I know several young people ( under 50) who had Covid then got long Covid and still have problems. We will need to be tested this week for a trip then tested again twice in the next two weeks. One test is to be able to re- enter the country.

We have been sticking with small outdoor events, like a socially distanced outdoor concert and a small alumni event where everyone is taking antigen tests before attending. My county is again recommending masks indoors and most are complying. I signed back up for a gym, but they have touchless entry and have an outdoor pool reachable without going through a locker room.

Everything has gone back to normal around here. Big festivals are happening, masks aren't required in most places, people back in offices. We all had one booster in my hh. Only mom is eligible for the second, cause it's age 50+, but her dr said don't get it yet.
None of us have gotten Covid, or if we did it was asymptomatic. I really should test weekly though, cause I'm in a PR role and around hundreds of people a week.

I've had my 3 shots a little while already (double vaccinated since January & then boosted in April), but have honestly been a little disoriented in the difference in COVID protocols since coming home - so sadly am unsure how long I can stay strict about it...

In HK, you still need to mask indoors - they lifted the requirements for people exercising, but I still keep mine on at all times except for outdoor swimming. You now cannot eat at restaurants etc without being 'triple' vaccinated (2 shots + booster) so whilst I do take advantage of that now, we've been trying to minimise it by eating it/ getting delivery as much as possible. That said, social distancing is pretty much impossible there due to the population density, so people only half adhere to the distance markers in queues (e.g. at the post office). The rest of the time it's just as crowded as ever, even in swimming pools etc (they had crowd control before due to COVID, but now not so much)...

On the other hand, the UK seems to be more obsessed with social distancing rather than mask wearing, but people seem to be 'giving up' the distancing whilst socialising (e.g. at weddings). It's made me a little nervous to be honest, since I've still been wearing my mask out of the house since getting here, but even on the plane many folks weren't wearing theirs (despite the airline supposedly requiring masks when not eating...) My mother is already pressuring me to attend some weddings where I *know* most either won't be masking, or will want to be hugging & taking photos with me unmasked. I've already told her I won't attend unless I can continue wearing my mask, & she's agreed, but my mother has also been known for yanking my father's mask off his face because she 'couldn't hear him', so I don't have high hopes she'll actually 'allow' me to when the time comes...

TL;DR: I'll do my best to stick to my COVID prevention (despite having had 3 shots) but at this point I've resigned myself to likely catching COVID during this trip. I just hope it's sooner rather than later, since I won't be able to re-enter HK without a negative PCR test (& even then, I'll have to quarantine for a week in a hotel). Part of me feels this is why we keep getting spikes then dips in the COVID rates - people are impatient about getting back to 'normal', but don't realise how some of their behaviours may ironically be contributing to the delay of said 'normal'...

Anyway I'll get off my soapbox now, just a bit miffed that others won't let me be cautious in peace - they'll likely be my downfall, lol...

Thanks to everyone who responded! I am so sorry to hear about those that have gotten Covid and those that are struggling to get people to understand their cautiousness. I have been incredibly anxious lately and had a painful IBS flare up this last week that I’m 100% sure is related to my emotions. I feel awkward during and exhausted after every social interaction but am trying to get out a few times a week even if it’s outside. I’ve started swimming with a few friends 3 times a week and hope the Sun and exercise will help. Let’s all hang in there.