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I should have been more explicit. Legally, “assault” does not have to involve contact, hence “assault and battery”.

Assault sans battery is still a crime. Repeatedly threatening to punch someone, e.g., or throwing punches without landing them.

Fair enough. My point was that declining to wear a mask or get a vaccine is very different than punching someone or even threatening to.

In the context of COVID I've seen appeals to an imaginary right to feel safe, and using that to imply obligations onto others.