We do so many ineffective Covid rituals. If we just wore n95s when reasonable that would give us equivalent protection and eliminate the need for the other stuff. Outdoor making is so dumb.
Outdoor masking should be based on how likely it is you're breathing in someone's breath. At an empty park? Fine. At a sporting event? Probably want a mask.
It's very strange the way mask guidance hasn't evolved at all since mid 2020. I know people who are very careful, even wipe down their groceries, but still wear cloth masks. Usually because they're more comfortable or nicer looking or washable. If people knew how much protection they were getting for the extra discomfort it might be different.
Yeah it's really frustrating how long we've taken to acknowledge that covid is airborne. At least in the US, we should have had free n95s mailed to everyone. As much as I would love vaccines to be the end of this, we still need NPIs like high quality masks and not stupid stuff like 6 foot social distancing that everyone got sick of and no one follows.
Ravaging the population? It's this exaggeration of the disease that I'm saying we should stop. Just accept it like it's a weird sequel to the flu and move on.
Perhaps, I think the risk level for death or hospitalization may be acceptable, but I'd love to see data about the risk level for long covid after being vaccinated.