Live Performance in the Age of Covid

[Anderton]

It is now official, a Whatcom County resident in his 30's and fully vaccinated tested positive for Omicron and is in isolation.

 

I recently read a study that said of 45 (IIRC) Omicron patients who had been studied, almost all were double-vaccinated. The conclusion was that unvaccinated people are still getting Delta. As to the Omicron people, the researchers were trying to find out if this was because they travelled or otherwise socialized, thinking that the vaccine would protect them, or whether it was simply that the vaccine's protection is waning faster for Omicron than Delta.

 

There's still so much we don't know. I can't believe people are so disconnected from reality that they don't understand science is the process of coming up with answers, not instantly coming up with answers.

 

Argh.

[KuruPrionz]

 

There's still so much we don't know. I can't believe people are so disconnected from reality that they don't understand science is the process of coming up with answers, not instantly coming up with answers.

 

Argh.

 

My only plausible explanation is that Devo was correct...

[Notes_Norton]

Our nice, outdoor gig got cancelled today. "Game called on account of rain." Too bad, because at this gig they pay us AND feed us

 

It's one of the downsides of playing outdoor gigs. But there are more pros than cons in this age of plague.

 

So, I'll work on some Band-in-a-Box styles.

 

Insights and incites by Notes â«

[Anderton]

 

There's still so much we don't know. I can't believe people are so disconnected from reality that they don't understand science is the process of coming up with answers, not instantly coming up with answers.

 

Argh.

 

My only plausible explanation is that Devo was correct...

 

...and so was the movie "Idiocracy"!

[KuruPrionz]

 

There's still so much we don't know. I can't believe people are so disconnected from reality that they don't understand science is the process of coming up with answers, not instantly coming up with answers.

 

Argh.

 

My only plausible explanation is that Devo was correct...

 

...and so was the movie "Idiocracy"!

 

After all, science is fake news anyway.

[PrairieGuy]

After all, science is fake news anyway.

Most people trust science, but they may be hesitant to trust drug company CEOs and many government paid health officials.

[Groove On]

You're supposed to question the science, that's how you do science. You always question the science: where it came from, how was it put together, who put it together and who benefits from it.

[Notes_Norton]

After all, science is fake news anyway.

Most people trust science, but they may be hesitant to trust drug company CEOs and many government paid health officials.

True, but it seems the people who don't trust the drug company vaccines are willing to trust bleach, malaria drugs, horse de-wormer drugs, and other untried, untested things. Does that make sense? The drug companies make profits on malaria and horse medicines.

 

The vaccines have demonstrated both remarkable safety and effective rates, with several millions of test and real-world cases.

 

The biggest anti-vax country is the USA, and we have the most deaths of any other country in the world, including countries with a billion more people than we have.

 

So whether you trust the government and drug companies or not, it seems that the real-world evidence indicates that vaccines are our best defense so far.

 

And IMO the anti-masker thing is just out of line. It's a minor inconvenience for a moderate amount of protection.

 

Personally, I think the real reason for the anti-ounce-of-prevention people is that it has been politicized, and their resistance is more group identity than the reasons they spout. If I'm wrong about that (and I've been wrong before) please explain why I may be wrong.

 

Since this thread is about gigging in the age of COVID, I'll return to the subject.

 

Unfortunately, because too many US Citizens have decided not to take the ounce-of-prevention, we lead the world in COVID deaths. That makes many attending places where I gig for a living a dangerous place for a majority of the patrons, which is effecting my income and ability to buy things that would help the economy recover.

 

Insights and incites by Notes â«

[Anderton]

You're supposed to question the science, that's how you do science. You always question the science: where it came from, how was it put together, who put it together and who benefits from it.

 

And science itself is about asking questions.

[Anderton]

After all, science is fake news anyway.

Most people trust science, but they may be hesitant to trust drug company CEOs and many government paid health officials.

 

Based on past performance, there's no reason to trust drug company CEOs. As to government officials, remember that pharmaceutical companies are, shall we say, well-represented by lobbyists in Washington. But a function of government health officials is also to collect data. How people choose to spin data depends on their agenda.

 

What I do trust is data from people who "don't have a dog in this fight." ICU bed capacity, front line hospital workers, hospital administrators, documented vaccine reactions, excess death statistics, and morgues provide all the data anyone needs to conclude that: 1) covid is real, 2) vaccines are effective.

 

Based on that data, not data from CEOs or government officials, my conclusion was to minimize the risks of getting covid, and get a vaccine.

 

As to the science, it's still evolving. As I've said many times before, this is the "novel" coronavirus, not the "been there, done that" coronavirus. Most models show 2023 will be okay, the main disagreement is what will happen in 2022. We'll find out soon enough, but I suspect live performance will be common in the summer, and if we're lucky, in the spring.

[KuruPrionz]

After all, science is fake news anyway.

Most people trust science, but they may be hesitant to trust drug company CEOs and many government paid health officials.

You're supposed to question the science, that's how you do science. You always question the science: where it came from, how was it put together, who put it together and who benefits from it.

 

I don't trust some of the people PrarieGuy doesn't trust. I also don't trust some the people who don't trust people, some of them are not trustworthy either. The news in the USA is entirely money driven and needs to be vetted from all angles prior to trusting or not trusting it, just for one.

 

Groove On is correct, science is questionable and questions do provide more answers. Facts are few and far between in some cases, this virus is new to humanity and not much is known for certain, basic math contains facts - 2+2 does equal 4 in most cases. I trust the 800,000 dead of Covid in our country as an aggregate number taken as facts arrived and I suspect there are far more than that who didn't seek medical care and passed on at home, could be a million dead for all I know.

 

Craig's answer above is spot on, I trust him.

 

And, I trust my foot surgeon. When I had a consultation with him and told him I'd had both my Moderna shots, he said "You won't die and you won't be hospitalized but you are not immune to catching Covid."

He was correct, I caught it in August and after a couple of days that felt like a strong allergy attack, I was asymptomatic. I've tested negative twice since then and feel fine.

 

I've had my booster and am aware of the unknown potential of the Omicron variant. We will know more as time passes, some of us anyway (not sure about myself for one).

It was certainly a factor in my decision this fall to resign my position in a band, as gigs move indoors up here, I moved away from gigs for now.

 

I'll miss out on some fun and some $$$ but I'll also avoid many opportunities for infection and abate my hearing damage.

We are seldom able to give up one thing without giving up other things so we must weigh the potential benefits of our own actions. That's what I've done. I am at peace with my choices.

[PrairieGuy]

True, but it seems the people who don't trust the drug company vaccines are willing to trust bleach, malaria drugs, horse de-wormer drugs, and other untried, untested things. Does that make sense? The drug companies make profits on malaria and horse medicines.

 

Drinking bleach was a lie that people fell over themselves to believe. Ivermectin is one of the safest and most prescribed drugs to humans (billions prescribed) but people were told that it is just a horse dewormer. People wanted someone to be wrong so bad that they fell for every lie that they were fed even if it was too stupid to believe.

 

I could give you a dozen other examples of misinformation too but that would sidetrack the thread. So perhaps please just understand that some people are hesitant about some information because they've been lied to repeatedly.

[Anderton]

True, but it seems the people who don't trust the drug company vaccines are willing to trust bleach, malaria drugs, horse de-wormer drugs, and other untried, untested things. Does that make sense? The drug companies make profits on malaria and horse medicines.

 

Drinking bleach was a lie that people fell over themselves to believe. Ivermectin is one of the safest and most prescribed drugs to humans (billions prescribed) but people were told that it is just a horse dewormer. People wanted someone to be wrong so bad that they fell for every lie that they were fed even if it was too stupid to believe.

 

I could give you a dozen other examples of misinformation too but that would sidetrack the thread. So perhaps please just understand that some people are hesitant about some information because they've been lied to repeatedly.

 

Nothing in your post showed that what Notes said was misinformation, so it's a mystery why you quoted him as if you were not in agreement with what he said.

 

Notes Norton is right that people trusted bleach:

 

https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2020-06-05/cdc-some-people-did-take-bleach-to-protect-from-coronavirus

https://www.newsweek.com/anti-vaxxer-treated-covid-infection-bleach-ingredient-dies-johann-biacsics-austria-1654943

https://www.forbes.com/sites/nicholasreimann/2020/08/24/some-americans-are-tragically-still-drinking-bleach-as-a-coronavirus-cure/?sh=3df1d65c6748

https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/a-leader-of-a-movement-touting-toxic-bleach-as-a-miracle-covid-19-cure-has-been-charged-following-a-5-year-old-boys-death/ar-AAO5C30

https://www.vice.com/en/article/m7e8dy/doctors-are-injecting-bleach-to-treat-covid-in-bolivia

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/19/bleach-miracle-cure-amazon-covid

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2021-06-29/covid-bleach-cure-how-operation-quack-hack-took-down-the-genesis-ii-church

https://www.businessinsider.com/bolivia-minister-says-toxic-mms-bleach-for-covid-19-2020-12

https://bestlifeonline.com/bogus-covid-19-cures/

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20210629-south-americas-bitter-divide-over-a-toxic-covid-cure

 

And he's right about people trusting Ivermectin:

 

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/574051-new-mexico-reports-two-deaths-from-ivermectin

https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/why-you-should-not-use-ivermectin-treat-or-prevent-covid-19

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(05)62668-2/fulltext

 

And he's right abnout "other, untested things." Just one example:

 

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/06/does-colloidal-silver-work-covid-19/613177/

 

And he's right that drug companies make profits on malaria and horse medicines. I don't think I need to include links to show that's true..

 

The bottom line is that it's best to respond to what someone actually said, not what you think they said. You are making the same mistake as those who interpreted Trump's speculation about injecting disinfectant as an endorsement of it.

 

https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/world/us-coronavirus-deaths-by-bleach-disinfectant-injection-major-rise-trump-covid-19-treatment-616708

https://time.com/5835244/accidental-poisonings-trump/

 

We now return to our regularly scheduled programming.

[Notes_Norton]

[Edited to remove political content. - Craig]

 

December, which for us usually has 18 to 22 gigs had 9 this year, and so-far one has been rained out, and if the weather forecasters are correct, one will be rained out early next week. (January is slim too)

 

Of course, it is 9 minus rain dates, better than last year. I'm thankful for that. And I'm thankful that I live in Florida, where we can play outdoor gigs all year long.

 

On the other hand, I wish everyone would quit being stubborn and get the ounce-of-prevention we all need to put this behind us.

 

There is a reason why the US leads the world in covid deaths, even though the post populated countries on Earth have 4 times as many people as we do. Trust that doctors all over the world who have no financial interest in the vaccines tell us that the vast majority of people now dying from COVID are not vaccinated. Personally, I don't care if the anti-vax person wants to risk death, if he/she dies, they took the chance and pay the price, just as a mountain climber who falls off the mountain does. But I do not think the anti-vax person has a right to potentially infect others and possibly kill the innocent.

 

What does this have to do with Live Performance in the Age of COVID?

 

Since 1985 I have targeted the senior citizen audience. They have been very good to me until COVID came along, and I personally love my audience. We just had a couple who for at least 10 years came to see us once a week during the winter season write us to tell us they won't be coming down this year because her vaccinated husband, who is 90, caught COVID and, although otherwise very healthy, may not make it. Others of the age group are simply afraid to go out.

 

This not only affects my ability to make a living, but more than that, I see good people who I have grown to love as extended family get sick and die because some other person wants to say "I'm in the non-vax, non-mask team, and I think my freedom gives me the right to possibly infect and kill others."

 

And if you want to stay unvaccinated, please do not go indoors in public anywhere unless you are sure everyone else is unvaccinated.

 

Then, perhaps sooner than later, I'll be able to do more of what I was put on this earth to do, make people happy by playing music that they love to hear.

 

Insights, incites and a minor rant by Notes â«

[GovernorSilver]

fwiw, in my area no official vaccine passport law yet, but every single live music venue that I go to requires proof of vaccination. Only one requires a mask for indoor shows - that's been the strictest one. The rest seem to recognize that once inside, people want to buy and drink beer and whatever.

[Notes_Norton]

fwiw, in my area no official vaccine passport law yet, but every single live music venue that I go to requires proof of vaccination. Only one requires a mask for indoor shows - that's been the strictest one. The rest seem to recognize that once inside, people want to buy and drink beer and whatever.

Unfortunately, our governor made vaccine passports and mask mandates illegal, with a hefty fine for every individual you ask for a vaccine passport or refuse entry due to a passport or mask. The result is that we have the largest per-capita COVID rate in the country.

 

For that reason, plus we get so many tourists who might be bringing a virus with them, I have to be extra careful.

 

I turned down a Seminole Indian Casino gig. It was a sad thing to do. I've played that room before. The pay is almost twice with others pay, they offer dinner, anything at all even a steak, they help us with our gear, hold doors open for us, and they are extremely pleasant.

 

The problem is that it's in a county with a large anti-science population, which also has one of the highest COVID cases and deaths per capita in the state.

 

I'm not going to ignore this kind of evidence and go for that high-profit, high-pleasure gig and take a chance on coming home compromised.

 

One of my once-a-week outdoor gigs is ending at the end of the month, but I picked up a new one starting the first week of January. This one is right on the beach, and we are protected from the salt-spray wind. It should be a lot of fun.

 

Notes â«

[GovernorSilver]

That's an unfortunate situation down there in FL.

[Notes_Norton]

That's an unfortunate situation down there in FL.

Yes, I agree.

 

I don't understand the reasoning behind his actions, and why he wants to make his own voters the sickest.

 

Fortunately, I'm still gigging, although not as much as I'd like to. But I'm making enough to survive without hitting our savings, so I feel luckier than a lot of other people in the hospitality industry.

 

I heard a rumor that the Canadians are going to be called back home if things get worse. That would hurt our business, as we play at a resort that hosts 600 Canadian RV families every winter.

 

One day at a time Mr. Norton, one day at a time.

 

Notes â«

[Anderton]

I don't understand the reasoning behind his actions, and why he wants to make his own voters the sickest.

 

Probably because the number of people who will die is smaller than the number of people who will struggle economically during lockdowns.

 

Again...there are no good solutions, only bad ones. What's defined as "less bad" is where people differ.

[Notes_Norton]

Good point, but on the other hand, asking a person to don a mask before entering a building, or asking for a cruise ship passenger to be fully vaccinated is a decent compromise between lockdowns and zero regulations.

 

But as I said, I'm on the outside looking in, so I don't know why he did what he did.

 

The cruise ships don't want to become COVID islands with nobody wanting them to dock, so some of them are taking DeSantis to court, saying the federal CDC rules supersede the governor's executive order. Other lines are letting anyone on but restricting the unvaccinated from eating in the restaurants, going to the shows, or going to the bars/lounges. Once at sea, Florida's laws have no jurisdiction. So that keeps the safety up without violating the law.

 

But the local lounge or theater doesn't have that advantage. They get a huge fine for each and every person they refuse entry because they aren't wearing a mask.

 

Like I said, I don't know why he did what he did, but I suspect it's to gain personal credibility and future votes from the anti-vax, anti-mask 'club'.

 

I do know is that it's hurting my economic recovery, along with just about everyone else in the hospitality industry. I wonder who is gaining.

 

Insights and incites by Notes â«

[Anderton]

I REALLY hate to be a downer, but I see this as a public service. I recently saw a news feed that painted a rosy picture of re-infection. I won't mention the source, but suffice it to say it's a major cable news network.

 

Even though there"s only one Superman, "super immunity" may be possible in vaccinated patients who develop COVID-19 breakthrough infections.These patients generate antibodies that were as much as 1,000% more effective than compared to those generated two weeks after the second Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, according to a Journal of the American Medical Association article published this week.

 

"We have not examined the omicron variant specifically, but based on the results of this study we would anticipate that breakthrough infections from the omicron variant will generate a similarly strong immune response among vaccinated people," senior author Dr. Fikadu Tafesse noted in a press release. Researchers collected blood samples from participants who were fully vaccinated with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, then compared a 26-person control group without any breakthrough infections with 26 participants who were diagnosed with mild cases of COVID-19 after being vaccinated.

 

Of those with breakthrough infections, 10 participants had the delta variant, nine had non-delta variants, and seven had unknown variants, but because the study was done between January and August of this year, the omicron variant was not included."

 

Sure, go to football games, and parties, and movies...it's the holidays, and that was on the news, so it must be right! But then there's a more recent report from the UK (which is ahead of this particular curve) with a little more medical credibility compared to "oh yeah, well, we didn't include omicron":

 

Controlling for vaccine status, age, sex, ethnicity, asymptomatic status, region and specimen date, Omicron was associated with a 5.40 (95% CI: 4.38-6.63) fold higher risk of reinfection compared with Delta. To put this into context, in the pre-Omicron era, the UK 'SIREN' study of COVID infection in healthcare workers estimated that prior infection afforded 85% protection against a second COVID infection over 6 months. The reinfection risk estimated in the current study suggests this protection has fallen to 19% (95%CI: 0-27%) against an Omicron infection.

 

The distribution of Omicron by age, region and ethnicity currently differs markedly from Delta, with 18â29-year-olds, residents in the London region, and those of African ethnicity having significantly higher rates of infection with Omicron relative to Delta. London is substantially ahead of other English regions in Omicron frequency.

 

To be fair, the complete report has not been peer-reviewed. But also to be fair, these people understand that science is like calculus - successive approximations, and are sharing what they learn as they go along.

 

I would caution anyone reading this to be very careful during this holiday season. Maybe it's not necessary to be careful, but if it is, the price of not doing so is too high IMHO. FWIW my brother-in-law's hospital in Pennsylvania is reaching the breaking point. One of my most credible sources in Massachusetts reports the same issues.

[KuruPrionz]

Thanks Craig,

 

People have to remember that Covid is a virus and viruses mutate constantly. This is not mindful, it is probably more random than most people imagine but there is no thought process involved.

The mutation that happens to thrive becomes the "flavor of the month" and previous treatments may or may not be effective.

 

As an example, every year the vaccine for the flu changes based on the most current available information. Often, the flu virus mutates during the development and manufacture of the new vaccine and people do get the flu every year, even some who have been vaccinated.

 

We are starting to get a better database regarding Omicron but that doesn't mean it will cease mutating and the database must mutate along with it.

 

We know from observing Ebola that a virus that kills it's host quickly and first appears in a relatively isolated part of the world will not have much opportunity to spread or mutate. Which is fortuitous, if Ebola had started in New York City or another large city in the world the death toll would have been horrendous and new waves of mutation would be sweeping across the planet constantly.

[KuruPrionz]

I will add that the people who speak of developing "herd immunity" are grasping at straws. Herd immunity to a virus is a false hope.

 

If vaccine immunity changes when a virus mutates, the same thing will happen to the unvaccinated. They may survive a round of Delta and still get Omicron or any of the variants to come.

It is inevitable that some of us will survive, even if stricken with the disease. That may not provide protection from future diseases.

 

And, here is an example that is currently a real problem in the United States. Chicken Pox - leading to Shingles.

 

When I was a kid, when the Chicken Pox came to our school - everybody got it. It turns out that makes one susceptible to getting Shingles later in life, we may not get Chicken Pox again but the immunity that may have been bestowed at that time now fails to protect. 30%+ of all Americans currently get Shingles at some point. I had a co-worker who had it and she was in her thirties. Her description of it had me headed to the pharmacy, I've now had both Shinglex vaccines and I should be good to go, any case I contract will be much milder than if I hadn't had the vaccine - Chicken Pox or no (I had that too).

[GovernorSilver]

DC's mayor just reinstated their mask mandate upon a surge of COVID cases. DC live music venues have been checking for proof of vaccination already, but only one was checking for masks upon entry. I guess they'll require you to wear a mask to get in, but once you're inside, I'm sure they won't be as strict, because they still need to make money off of drink sales.

 

Haven't seen news yet about any changes to mask mandate or lack thereof in Virginia. There are conflicting reports about whether Governor-Elect Youngkin will block local COVID mandates, or just let localities make their own calls on it, or what.

[Anderton]

I think the solution presented below is really simple, because the gating element in all this isn't politics, it's hospitals.

 

It's important that people not lose sight of the fact that the object of any mandate or vaccine program is to keep people out of hospitals, because hospitals were never designed to handle their day-to-day issues AND the overlay of a pandemic. So, I have a four-step solution that should satisfy everyone. Yes! Really!!

 

A little background...it's important to remember that some unvaccinated people won't get Covid. So they can look back in a few years and say "I'm glad I didn't get the shot." Conversely, some fully vaccinated people will get covid, and some will require hospitalization. So, here's my plan.

 

1. Hospitals prioritize. Those who have been vaccinated and are most at risk, and those who have emergency non-covid related issues (e.g., heart attack, arm eaten by bear), including those who haven't been vaccinated, are priority #1. Those who have been vaccinated and get a breakthrough infection requiring hospitalization, and those with non-covid medical conditions requiring attention (including unvaccinated people) are priority #2. Unvaccinated people who get covid and require hospitalization are accepted on a time- and space-available basis. IOW they're last in line.

2. Borrowing a note from Notes, unvaccinated people who end up finding space in a hospital and are hospitalized are given a credit of $240 against their hospital bill (the approximate total cost of giving someone two shots and a booster). They're on the hook for the rest.

3. Those who are concerned about being exposed to the unvaccinated wear masks, practice social distancing, avoid crowds, and practice all other "best practices" for avoiding the disease.

4. Businesses can do whatever requirements they want - mask, no mask, passport, you have to wear an orange hat, whatever. The "freedom" folks can't complain if a business requires masks, because they have the freedom to do so. People concerned about covid have the freedom to patronize or not patronize businesses, as they see fit.

 

To me, this seems like the best way to make sure that:

 

* Those who really need help, and made a good faith effort to stay out of hospitals, get the help they need.

* Those who gambled and lost have to do what happens to anyone when they gamble and lose - pay up (or in this case, potentially die or suffer from lifelong issues).

* People would have no justification for rioting etc. against mandates, because there wouldn't be any. It would be totally up to them not to get the shot, and it would be their problem - not society's - if they get sick.

* The economy would keep going, albeit not quite as robustly as if there weren't a pandemic, because all the anti-vax people would do what they normally do, and buy stuff.

 

Anyone see anything wrong with this picture? If not, please send millions of dollars to my craigforprez.com PAC, and I'll see what I can do.

[KuruPrionz]

Well, it didn't take long to ramp up!

 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/omicron-sweeps-across-nation-now-224124094.html

[Notes_Norton]

I like your potential solution, Craig, but unfortunately, it isn't going to happen.

 

Here in Florida, thanks to our anti-science governor, it's illegal to ask for a vaccine passport, or to require a mask with the penalty of a hefty fine for each person you ask. You can say 'no shoes, not shirt, no service', but you can't say, 'no shoes, no shirt, or no masks, no service.'

 

So for me, I still think it's best to err on the side of safety. That means no indoor gigs, no attending concerts, no indoor restaurants, no vacation travel, no movie theaters, minimizing all indoor activities with crowds of people that I can, and when I cannot, wear a KN95 mask. And just think, the benefit of wearing the mask is the facial recognition software that potential tracks everyone in the USA won't recognize me. Especially if I wear a hat and keep my sunglasses on.

 

I don't want any of the COVID variants if I can avoid them. Getting covid could mean permanent damage to one's brain, lungs, heart, liver, and other major organs. I make my living with my brain and lungs, and I really appreciate my other organs working at full capacity. I'll leave super-immunity to the bold and daring.

 

People are not allowed to drive over the alcohol limit because it can potentially harm another human. People are banned from smoking indoors for the same reason. What is the difference between that and going indoors unvaccinated? That can potentially harm another human. Freedom is the right to do what you want, UNLESS it harms another human or violates someone else's freedom. So if you don't want the vaccine or if you don't want to wear a mask, stay out of public places where you potentially might infect an innocent. That's freedom with responsibility.

 

I'm losing one weekly outdoor gig at the end of December, but gaining one in January. This one even closer to the beach. Hopefully the Canadians won't be called back across the border due to omicron, because they are a large, and appreciated segment of our winter visitors.

 

Notes â«

[Anderton]

I like your potential solution, Craig, but unfortunately, it isn't going to happen.

 

Here in Florida, thanks to our anti-science governor, it's illegal to ask for a vaccine passport, or to require a mask with the penalty of a hefty fine for each person you ask. You can say 'no shoes, not shirt, no service', but you can't say, 'no shoes, no shirt, or no masks, no service.'

 

If the right of businesses to do what they see fit was codified at the federal level, then those kind of anomalies wouldn't be possible. Again, this is a nod to the "it's about freedom" people. The businesses would be free to conduct business in the way that they thought would be most successful. In some states, that might mean businesses would thrive without requiring masks, and in others, they would thrive by requiring masks. It would help the economy (often given as a reason why lockdowns are unsustainable) because consumers would be free to choose as well.

 

I haven't gone to movies since the covid thing started. If there was a theater that required proof of vaccination and wearing a mask, I would go.

[KuruPrionz]

I'll leave super-immunity to the bold and daring.

Notes â«

 

I'm not disagreeing with you, but I've been a cautious, mask wearing, double vaccinated (Moderna) sort of a person since March and recently had my booster shot.

We only played outdoor gigs where we could keep our distance this summer and I shop early to avoid crowds. And for all that, I still tested positive for Covid in August.

 

It was a mild case. In theory at least, I am more "immuner" than most. I'm neither bold nor daring, circumstances did their thing. Omicron is said to be umpty-bajillion times more transmissible and have a previous variant may not provide much immunity.

 

And, I still can't grow food enough to survive inside my condo!!!!

 

Cheers,

Kuru

[GovernorSilver]

Thought of this thread when I saw this

 

 

Immunity through getting sick on purpose... or getting vaccinated... I chose the latter