Some very brief reflections on 2023 vs. 2020.
We’re travelling again. I’m writing this in our AirBnB in Halifax where we’re visiting our oldest. Elastomerics and respirators for the entirety of our flights and in every indoor venue. Take out (it’s cold otherwise we’d be on patios). RATs for my kid and my niece when they’re at our place. Masks off. Windows open. Yes, a small risk. Went to Israel over the summer. Thinking about Costa Rica next year.
We don’t worry about shopping as we’ve come to recognize good masks are very very good, nor are we wiping down groceries.
Friends come over (same protocol - testing and no known exposures or symptoms)
There are dozens and dozens of Arctic P14 fans working quietly in our home 24/7.
I’m far less worried our now much vaccinated older loved ones will die if they contract COVID.
I no longer believe public health serves the public.
People who claim to care about kids who lobbied incessantly to remove all of our children’s school protections definitely don’t care about kids
We’ve sacrificed those at most risk for those with the most privilege
Social pressures to pretend it’s over are crushing and unrelenting
Essential spaces’ indoor air is at best barely cleaner than before and not meaningfully so.
We know exactly what we need to do to equitably, inexpensively, unobtrusively, and rapidly reduce the transmission of all airborne diseases and we’re not doing it because of political partisanship, sunk costs (intellectual and personal far more than monetary), appeal to consequences, and our grand global game of ignore.
We’ve ensured that the next time around we’ll do less more slowly.
So much pressure to pretend its over. At my hospital still regular outbreaks on various units.
Thank you SO much for this. My hubby and I have honestly begun to feel we’re the only ones who a) haven’t yet had COVID, b) are still working hard not to get COVID and c) really, really don’t want it. Now I’m trying to convince public health to let those of us who had the bivalent booster in the Fall have another one, 6 months later. Nope, they say, not unless you’re high risk or a certain age.