On the Rise

COVID cases are on the rise all over the country (and world), with each day blowing the previous day's record setting number of new cases out of the water. I'm trying to go back to the level of caution that I was taking back in March and April, not going anywhere or seeing anyone or touching anything. It's a bit harder now, though, because I do have things like doctor's appointments. I'm definitely not being as casual about things like just running into a store quickly, as I was over the summer. But some people had gotten to the point where they felt safe gathering with small groups of people, and the problem is when everyone's bubbles intersect, you're still exposed to more people than you realize. They're saying this newest outbreak is due more to small gatherings than to large, superspreader events.

The state of Utah, after not mandating anything this whole time, has finally implemented a mask mandate. I've seen a lot of people over the last couple weeks saying they wouldn't mind another lockdown, like some other countries are doing, or wondering why there isn't one. Some schools have just reopened for the first time this year, while other schools and workplaces are shutting back down and moving back to a fully virtual format. A local children's hospital recommended all schools in the region go virtual for a period of time, and I just saw that schools in my county are now virtual for 2 weeks - although my school district had already elected not to go back for in-person learning until at least January, much to the disappointment of some parents. I've seen many parents whose kids are in virtual classes say that they would sign any kind of waiver just to let their kids go back to the classroom.

My thought is, the people who want to and believe in wearing masks are wearing masks. The people who want and are able to stay home are staying home. The people who don't believe in any of that won't be swayed by an unenforceable lockdown. President-elect Biden's new coronavirus advisor says a 6-week lockdown (where the government pays for people not to work) could save the economy. Let's see if the case is still the same after January 20th...