So, Are we just "living with COVID" now?

[Ms. Toad]

12. The alternative to living with COVID is dying with it.

So, yes. We are living with COVID now.

Have you checked out Ohio's restrictions before you assume that "we're not really fighting it anymore?"

I will be very surprised if we dont' have new restrictions in the next week or so. The signals seem to me to be pointing to restrictions on weddings/funerals - likely through catering. Bars are chomping at the bit to sell alcohol after 10:00 PM. Meantime, most of the new clusters can be traced directly to famliy gatherings (primarly weddings and funerals). The initial argument was - what is the difference between restaurants serving 50+ people as long as they have space and catering serving the same number of people as long as they ahve space.

Well, the obvous differences: at catered events there are generally free open bars, a substantial portion of those in attendance know each other - so minging (and removal of masks) is much more common, and everyone comes and stays for 3-5 hours. Those seated at a single table may be from up to 8 different households.