in all these tweets (including Biden events) I maybe see half a dozen masks, if that.

[Ms. Toad]

7. Too many Democrats have gone into a denial similar to the Republcans during the Trump era.

The number of new COVIDcases is climbing at rates even faster than reported since we've stoppped testing. But vaccinations and boosters ward off the worst of the immediate consequences (hospitalization and death) for most who are vaccinated and boosted.

Our denial has to do with pretending the long-term comsequences don't matter. I've seen first hand the cognitive dramatic impact it can have for months (and still ongoing) on a vaccinated and boosted individual.

Our denial also has to do with pretending that those who are least able to fend for themselves (immune compromised, vulnerable because of physical conditions or age) just have to suck it up - paraphrasing one DU member - they are always going to have to take special precautions. It sucks, but too bad.

Our denial has to do with the dearth of information we have about the long term implications (other than long covid) on our health. The data we do have is bad. For the entire duration of the data we have, we know that even mild and asymptomatic cases create a greater risk of cardiac events, diminished executive reasoning, loss of brain mass. We are just beginning to study what else it causes - and it will be decades before we know.

But far too many are tired of caring, and of leading by example - and most like Republicans - it is politically expedient to pretend it is over. So we are.