General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Don't believe the bullshit that people who are vaccinated aren't getting really sick [View all]Ms. Toad
(33,999 posts)There is a difference. Sometimes the agencies which are supposed to act for the good of the public lose their footing. The CDC has been doing that too much recently - sluggish to recognize the science and acting as if they are the personal physician (focusing on individual health), rather than on public health. I would never insult anyone for not following the CDC - any insults I levy are for not following the science. On many subjects it is the same, but unfortunately, on COVID, their record has been about 50-50.
There is also a vast difference between going about our lives because of jobs, caring for family, etc. and throwing caution to the wind while doing so. I've been in the office since the stay-at-home restriction was lifted sometime last summer, and teaching in person since August 2020 (over a year). I have never suggested anyone needs to stop living - just live in a way that is consistent with the appropriate respect for COVID.
I never stopped wearing masks. I could count on both hands the number of times between the first week of March 2020 and May 2021 when I had been in a room with someone I was not living with, without a mask. All but 2 of those were medical or dental situations (I had a root canal - which requires several visits, and three surgeries for an aggressive cancer). By now, I'm up to needing 3 hands to count and I've added 5 non-medical encounters (3 x were with my elderly parents in an isolated extended care community that had its first COVID case in its residents about 3 weeks ago).
I'm appalled at the number of DU members who insist that going without masks is just fine, despite the science on public health, and dismiss concerns about contributing to the development of Delta, infecting 0-11 year olds, or infecting immune compromised individuals. That's not consistent with science (it never was) and focusing on personal convenience rather than public health is about as far from progressive values as you can get.