Are We (Finally) Coming Out of Covid? Probably Not But Also Maybe?

I haven’t written a lot about Covid lately but it’s interesting to reflect on how our attitudes and therefore, our language, changes.

For instance, I have started saying “Coming out of Covid” to refer to our current situation and as a reflection of what I see in wider society – very little masking (including myself even though I should know better!), very little concern about Covid, very little Covid-related news of any kind being highlighted in mainstream media (think back to even a couple years ago when it was a near constant on news channels.)

But with that said, Covid still exists and is still a thing. Personally, I’ve had a few confirmed direct and extended exposures within the last month or so (including both of my parents who finally tested positive within the last couple weeks, having never tested positive before. But again – language – always with the caveat “Doesn’t mean you didn’t have it – just means you didn’t test positive before.”)

I have been sick but also have not yet tested positive. Did I/do I have Covid? Some would say “of course – tests just aren’t catching the strain you have” while others would say “Nah, lots of RSV going around.”

It’s still a thing because people are still testing positive, still passing it to others in crowded restaurants and conference rooms, still missing work during their contagious period and/or because Covid may have weakened their (my?) immune system or body in other ways – even as we “learn to live with it.”

Here are a couple tweets and articles I came across that I wanted to share:

Someone who does high level biorisk, business continuity analysis…

1. A core part of the analysis I perform involves zooming out; that is to say, taking a very broad view of the effects of infectious disease on populations, rather than individuals. People often reply to my posts here with something like, 'everyone I know who had Covid is ok'.

— Conor Browne (@brownecfm) November 22, 2023

We’re witnessing a “pandemic of inhumanity”…

As I predicted in January 2020, this is what plagues escalate and trigger:
"We are witnessing a pandemic of inhumanity"https://t.co/LFFVyGxkQN

— tern (@1goodtern) November 11, 2023

Now we know how Covid attacks your heart.

Long Covid is Real: Now The Evidence Is Piling Up

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