Perhaps the Covid Monster will have the last word and will paraphrase Mark Twain’s saying that “reports of its death have been greatly exaggerated.” Given the human folly of recklessness and the threats of new variants and mutations, who knows. There may still be serious surges, and the success of the current vaccines may be only temporary.
Whatever happens, it is increasingly apparent that much of the citizenry has declared the emergency over and is getting on with the life they lost a year ago. State governments are trashing mask mandates, and businesses are reopening without restrictions. News reports are replete with testimonials about the pandemic in the past tense.
It has been an horrific year for many with almost 30 million cases and 529,000 deaths in the nation. Covid-19 has become the leading cause of death. At the same time, it is undeniable that the impact of the pandemic has been uneven, affecting some demographics more than others. And for many people, even contracting the virus has not been lethal.
I, along with millions of other Americans, have been one of the lucky ones who have gone on with their lives with really few discomforts and little deprivation. For this I am thankful but constantly mindful of the awful threats and frequent deaths this has brought to so many of my fellow citizens.
Let us hope that the end is truly in sight.
Karen Raley
Magical thinking and wishful thinking are what’s behind the mistaken idea that covid is over. People are just not paying attention to the facts. What is happening in Brazil right now is that many new variants are being spawned b/c covid is running rampant through the population and social and health systems are collapsing under the strain. It is only a matter of time before this crap starts all over again.
You may very well be right Karen, though I am not as cocksure about this as you. It is best to continue to take proper precautions. I am not ready to go out to my favorite restaurants and bars yet and I always wear my mask. Let’s hope for the best; we will never convince those who are hell-bent against what the medical authorities advise. Much of this, unfortunately, is driven by politics!
Thanks for your comments.