Covid infections are up by 68%, over the past two weeks, in my county

[Ms. Toad]

55. So people who wear masks aren't living? Who knew.

It is time to continue to focus on minimizing transmission of a disease about which our knowledge is limited to two years. What we know from those two years is that COVID causes an increase in risk of cardiac events, diminished mental capacity and executive functioning, and a decrease in brain matter. Only time will uncover the other long-term effects. Until we know what those are, the minimizing infection needs to continue to be a focus of our public health policies. Vaccinations certainly need to be a priority - but not the only priority, since they are not 100% effective at preventing disease transmission. Beyond that, especially with cases increasing and already in the former "substantial transmission" range masks are still warranted and should be encouraged (or mandated), rather than discouraged particularly in places which are necessary to carry out daily routines (stores, public transportation, courts, doctors' offices, etc.).

I don't care which party's politics are being prioritized over public health - COVID is a public health matter, and treating it as political (as both sides are now doing) is a disaster. The grown ups need to retake control of the CDC.