Call me a fun sponge, but let’s think about this for a moment. Does it make sense to wear a mask indoors but not while you are sleeping in a room with other people?
What are the factors we might consider:
1.) Inhalation of airborne droplets and fine aerosol particles containing the virus are a primary source of spreading CoVid. (See
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/201...text=The risk of SARS-,increasing time after% )
2.) Risk of infection increases with the degree of exposure to the virus. The setting (indoor vs outdoor), proximity and length of exposure all seem to matter.
3.) People infected with CoVid can be asymptotic, and odds seem high asymptotic carriers can spread the disease. (See
https://www.uchicagomedicine.org/fo...tions-contribute-to-over-50-percent-of-spread ).
4.) The efficacy of masks in preventing the spread of CoVid depends on the type of mask, but it is generally believed that something covering the face is better than nothing.
5.) Albergue dormitories are settings of high human density, close proximity, long duration of possible exposure (overnight) and are often poorly ventilated spaces. Common areas - showers, wash rooms, toilets, kitchens, etc - are areas of possible contact exposure. A year ago albergues would have been considered prime venues for super-spreader events.
6.) Health authorities and government policy makers (aka, the “experts”) have made mistakes during the pandemic, so they may make additional mistakes as they relax the social restrictions. They also set policy based on what’s in the common good, broadly defined. They are not interested in keeping you, as an individual person, safe from all harm. That’s your responsibility.
7.) Vaccination has clearly been shown to dramatically lessen the risks of infection (and therefore personal risk of spreading the disease), but how do you know if the people sleeping in the bunk room with you have been vaccinated?
8.) The CoVid variants now in circulation are thought to be more infectious that the original virus.
9.) Thank God, the situation now is vastly improved since last year. But the facts listed above remain.
So, to sleep with a mask, or not? The answer seems to be a matter of how much risk are you comfortable taking?
If you want to lower the risks involved on Camino in the Age of CoVid, you probably should wear a mask while you are in the confined spaces of the albergue.
Alternatively, you could consider more private forms of accommodation - single or double rooms in private albergues, guest houses, or small hotels. You could think of the additional cost as an health insurance policy.
As always, it’s up to you.
Buen Camino!