Hundreds of thousands of people are filing into sports stadiums, almost on a nightly basis.
Many are not wearing masks, and by the very nature of capacity seating, most are not social distancing.
And yet, this months-long surge of the Delta variant of COVID-19 seems to be on its last sputter, as cases have plummeted in recent weeks.
After three or four waves of the coronavirus, we have been able to learn more about the way in which it behaves.
We’re by no means suggesting that mask wearing and social distancing are not effective ways to stop the spread of the virus, but it is apparent that COVID-19 does not react to human behavior the way we sometimes arrogantly perceive.
If sporting events, where face coverings are shed and social distancing is ignored, were absolute super spreader events, we should be in the thick of the worst wave in COVID’s short but storied history.
The opposite is happening.
People who are trying to make sense of COVID often jump to the wrong conclusions.
It seems that even the “experts” have gotten a lot of things incorrect about it, which has led to a myriad of mixed messages regarding mask policies and vaccinations.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who prior to the COVID outbreak was considered one of the world’s leading experts on virology, is at the center of a lot of distrust people have in both the government and the science behind the fight against the disease.
In reality, Dr. Fauci continues to be one of the world’s leading experts in virology.
It turns out, however, that he was quite lousy when it came to public policy and governing a pandemic.
Whatever credibility he lost when it comes to being a bureaucrat should not affect his status as a scientist. He’s still quite good at that.
That credibility issue will have far-reaching effects, unfortunately.
It has caused many to elect not to get a COVID vaccine.
The recent drop in COVID cases will also likely lead many to think the disease is in the rearview mirror for good.
We’ve been through this before, and we know that it is likely not over. By a long shot.
In fact, the unvaccinated would be well served to reconsider their decision during this lull in cases, because they will need the protection of the vaccine when the virus inevitably returns.
Why do we think it will return?
Mostly due to the flat vaccination rate, coupled with the fact that we have not had enough cases to achieve combined herd immunity.
The fact that the Delta variant lingered around during a time when thousands of people opted not to get vaccinated means that we have afforded the virus the opportunity to mutate once again.
And the low vaccination and infection rates likely mean that whatever new mutation comes from the current variants will probably remain potent.
We don’t know if another wave will come this winter or next spring, but based on our experiences with COVID, we feel pretty confident another surge will hit at some point in the next year, and it will hit whether we’re masking or not.
If the state can move the needle on its vaccination push between now and then, that many more people will be protected when the surge comes.
If vaccination immunity and natural immunity continue to hover below the thresholds of what’s needed for herd immunity, then we’ll not only see another season of suffering and death, but we’ll also see another dangerous mutation for a future wave.
It may seem safe to put off getting the vaccine because cases are dwindling, but now is actually the time to get that protection.
If you wait until the next surge starts to make your move against the virus, it may be too late.
