‘When will it end?’: New data suggests COVID-19 could become endemic Dr. Lynora Saxinger, a University of Alberta infectious diseases specialist, feels the current rules need to continue in public spaces, but private homes are a different matter.“It’s probably reasonably safe for (vaccinated) people who have not had a lot of exposures recently to gather a little more normally.”She points out the latest data shows the COVID-19 vaccines are highly protective even a few weeks after the first dose.Saxinger says if everyone in a group has had the shot at least a month ago, and they have clean hands and the room has decent ventilation, an in-home gathering would be OK.“Would you be able to take off your mask and eat in a group of people… if.