https://www.france24.com/en/france/20210515-france-s-covid-19-jab-rollout-on-track-to-hit-target-of-20-million-doses

COVID-19 mitigation measures were exactly the correct policy prescription in the early days of the pandemic when there was no vaccine or other cures, and the surge in hospitalizations threatened to overwhelm our entire health care system. I am not arguing that the mitigation measures were not needed. However, it's equally wrong to say that mask mandates, social distancing, and limited capacity rules are just "minor inconveniences". They may be to you, but not to everyone.

There are several jobs and businesses that rely on human interaction in order to survive. Think restaurants, bars, movie theaters, tourism, hospitality, gyms, hair salons, barber shops, public transportation systems, etc. COVID-19 mandated mitigation measures can decimate how these businesses function as customers won't patronize them if they're forced to wear masks and social distance. To some, these measures are an inconvenience. To others, their business may be forced to close.

My position is simple. If the science and the data require mandated mitigation measures, we should follow the guidance and support these businesses and their employees. If the science and the data say that the vaccines eliminate the need for these mitigation measures, we should move forward without them.

Calling these mitigation measures a "minor inconveniences" is being tone deaf to the needs of others.

The CDC issues guidelines that the states can follow or not. There is no central authority mandating anything. TX and FLA removed all mask mandates and other restrictions back in early March, and we have not seen spikes in hospitalizations or deaths from their decisions. In fact, it's been just the opposite. We've seen 70% and 80% declines over the last 5 months in hospitalizations and deaths from their peak in January of this year.

The CDC's guidelines reflect the data that they're seeing here in the U.S. and in Israel. The vaccinated have a very low risk for getting a severe case of COVID-19 and they do not carry enough of a viral load to spread the disease.

The risk is now shifted from the state to mitigate to the individual. Everyone will have different challenges and need to consult their doctor, but for now, the vaccinated have sufficient enough protection and no longer need to wear masks.

Peak 7-day moving average in the new number of new deaths from COVID (1/13/2021): 3,422
Current 7-day moving average in the new number of new deaths from COVID (5/13/2021): 599
Percentage change: -82.5%

Peak new deaths from COVID (1/13/2021): 4,195
Current new deaths from COVID (5/13/2021): 733
Percentage change: -82.5%

https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_dailytrendscases

Current 7-day Average (5/6/2021 to 5/12/2021): 3,956.3
Prior 7-day Average (4/29/2021 to 5/5/2021): 4,556.0
Percent Change: -13.2%

Peak 7-day Average (1/3/2021 to 1/9/2021): 16,578
Percent change from Peak to Current: -76.1%


https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#new-hospital-admissions

Two doses of BNT162b2 are highly effective across all age groups (≥16 years, including older adults aged ≥85 years) in preventing symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections and COVID-19-related hospitalisations, severe disease, and death, including those caused by the B.1.1.7 SARS-CoV-2 variant.

The Lancet:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00947-8/fulltext

If you forgo the vaccination and contract a severe case requiring hospitalization, then you should have to pay for your treatment just like a smoker pays for treatment from illnesses resulting from smoking cigarettes.

If you have been vaccinated and contract a severe case requiring hospitalization, then you should not have to pay for treatment, or the government should reimburse you or your insurance company.

Getting vaccinated should be a requirement by your health insurance company or you don't get coverage.

I did this two weeks after my 2nd Moderna vaccine shot as instructed. I rode the subway in the middle of the day in the middle of the work week and noticed just how empty everything was. I was getting very strange vibes. I didn't feel as safe as I did a year ago. Less people gives perpetrators less resistance to commit a crime. More people. More crowds. More resistance. More witnesses. Less crime.

Now that the CDC has given the all clear for vaccinated people to go maskless. it's time to full re-open the city and drop the mask mandates. The city needs to encourage people to get out and about. We need to get back to normal.

Something like "Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them and are Now Telling Even Bigger Lies. It's like lying has become an addiction to them".

You make the call:

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