CallMeMaybe wrote:
SDG wrote:
CallMeMaybe wrote:
I used the term “herd immunity” incorrectly. I wanted to describe the laissez-faire, non-preventative attitude that promotes opening all businesses, throwing away masks because they aren’t 100% effective, allowing gatherings and travel and super-spreader events, and letting Covid run rampant. It’s the let-nature-run-it’s-course crowd.
I’m not talking about the herd immunity that is achieved through reducing infections through masks, distancing, restrictions on activities + vaccines.
Maybe we need a new name for the laissez-faire approach?
You are being all or nothing on your assumptions. I am in favor of open businesses, free travel, parties, events, group gatherings and all the rest and have been doing it all since March. Myself and no one in family has had COVID. I am also in favor of wearing masks 100% of the time in public if you can't stay more than 6 feet from someone, washing hands and being aware of your surroundings.
You can get on with life and take reasonable precautions. If your solution, or anyone's solution, is total lockdown, then no thanks. Add to the fact that has shown not to be the total solution some think. Compare Florida and California.
I agree with President Biden and think no matter what we do, its going to get worse before it gets better and there is little we can do to change the trajectory. (Kay had some good ideas but it seems Biden is not following those either) If we started testing like crazy and isolating positives perhaps, but Biden did not seem very encouraging on the course it will take.
Take reasonable safety measures (masks and social distancing) get the vaccine if you want to, but live your life.
I have seen some writing this disease is not going anywhere ever no matter how many we get vaccinated. We can't keep social isolation and business closed up forever. I feel for the people who have lost an entire year sitting in their homes, ordering take out, staying away from society.
If the disease is indeed mutating, all the more reason we can't keep this up forever. We can't have doctors playing whack a mole with vaccines while the entire world sits in their homes for years and everyone is on government assistance.
Let’s not assume that government rules are a perfect indicator of Covid mitigation efforts. Rules are not enforced in some places. So, let’s not muddy the water talking about rules. Let’s just take about information and behavior.
Remember that Covid won’t mutate if there aren’t infections. So, mutation is not inevitable. Mutations occur after we fail to stop infections. If everyone stays in their homes for a year, we won’t have mutations and doctors won’t be playing whack-a-mole. That’s an unrealistic, extreme argument.
I’ll try not to be all-or-nothing. Some people are currently living in those extreme positions. Some are following all safety precautions. Some are following none. We can’t ignore the impact of those people—for good or for bad.
I suppose quite a lot of people are like you— picking and choosing which mitigation efforts you like. We could call your group the Cafeteria Covid Mitigators. How is your approach helpful to us, and how is it harmful?
You say, “Myself and no one in family has had COVID.” A more accurate statement is that no one in your family has tested positive for Covid. According to webMD, over half (59%) of Covid cases are spread by asymptomatic Covid carriers.
Knowing that the spread of Covid between asymptomatic people creates risk of mutations that prolongs our Covid experience, are you more concerned about attending large gatherings? Does asymptomatic spread of Covid and risk of mutations change your ideas about the effort you’re willing to make to stop the spread of Covid?
If the way to stop it is closing schools, closing businesses, self isolation then no that information doesn't change my mind. Those things are off the table. If stopping and mitigating it means wearing masks, staying six feet away, washing hands etc, then sure ,I have been doing those things since this started.
Put it thusly, if the only way to get rid of COVID is total isolation and lockdown, that is measure far too great in response to the pandemic for me.
The pandemic's overlooked toll: a surge in childhood obesity (thecounter.org) Just one of the many reasons total lockdown is off the table and does more harm than good.
if you want to ramp up testing to astronomical levers where everyone that moves about it tested twice a week, i am on board ( govt paid for), if you want to have everyone fill out a questionnaire before going into a business, I am on board. If you want to have COVID sniffing dogs at the front of every store or business I am on board ( provided the govmt pays for it).
There seem to be a number of measures we could put in place we still are not using. I am on board with Kay's testing and contract tracing method Kay has spelled out over and over but no one in govt ( even the great Fauci) seems to be pushing for that.
We have not exhausted all measures available at this point to even be talking about lockdowns and isolation as the ONLY way to get this under control.
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