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Restrictions remain on large gatherings in Australia, with capacity limits. Most of Australia has regulations regarding social distancing. Australian cities are

Restrictions remain on large gatherings in Australia, with capacity limits. Most of Australia has regulations regarding social distancing. Australian cities are locked-down when a single case is detected. You mentioned the last lock-down in your city was as recent as January. There are currently ~40,000 Australian citizens registered with the government who are trying to get back to Australia, receiving little to no assistance. Flights are restricted into the country. Australian citizens are banned from leaving the country. This is not yet "normal", I hope.

015a 6y ago
And, the ironic thing is, in much of the US life is actually back to a very near normality. People get sick. People are dying. Restaurants/bars in some states are fully open, others are closed, others are at 50%, it just depends. Large events aren't really happening, though for differing reasons (meaning, I don't think right now its because people wouldn't attend; in some locations its because of regulation, in others its more likely just public image of the event-holder). We went out to a bar in a state capital on Sunday, just to sit outside and get some food and drinks. I went inside to use the restroom, and you literally would not think there's a pandemic. Fifty to sixty people, probably 120% capacity (our city is at 50% capacity on bars; they don't care). No one wearing masks. Someone had their year old baby with them (also, definitely not allowed even outside covid). This wasn't a bar in the middle of nowhere, it was in the middle of a city of millions of people. Normalcy means different things to different people and in different places. When I say the US will be first back to normalcy, it isn't because we'll be the first country with no cases, or everyone vaccinated (though, our vaccination numbers are insane); its because the people and the government just care less. For many people, nothing has changed; the world has changed a bit around them, but for better or worse (read: for worse) life already is "normal". And, for even far, far more people, like me, the only part of life that isn't "normal" yet is that I throw on a mask when I go in the store or to work. There's plenty of places around the world where that WAS their normal even before covid. The majority of the US is not NYC/LA/Seattle/SF. It dominates the externally facing image, but its a far more nuanced and complex situation than what is happening in the major cities.

015a 6y ago

And, the ironic thing is, in much of the US life is actually back to a very near normality. People get sick. People are dying. Restaurants/bars in some states are fully open, others are closed, others are at 50%, it just depends. Large events aren't really happening, though for differing reasons (meaning, I don't think right now its because people wouldn't attend; in some locations its because of regulation, in others its more likely just public image of the event-holder). We went out to a bar in a state capital on Sunday, just to sit outside and get some food and drinks. I went inside to use the restroom, and you literally would not think there's a pandemic. Fifty to sixty people, probably 120% capacity (our city is at 50% capacity on bars; they don't care). No one wearing masks. Someone had their year old baby with them (also, definitely not allowed even outside covid). This wasn't a bar in the middle of nowhere, it was in the middle of a city of millions of people. Normalcy means different things to different people and in different places. When I say the US will be first back to normalcy, it isn't because we'll be the first country with no cases, or everyone vaccinated (though, our vaccination numbers are insane); its because the people and the government just care less. For many people, nothing has changed; the world has changed a bit around them, but for better or worse (read: for worse) life already is "normal". And, for even far, far more people, like me, the only part of life that isn't "normal" yet is that I throw on a mask when I go in the store or to work. There's plenty of places around the world where that WAS their normal even before covid. The majority of the US is not NYC/LA/Seattle/SF. It dominates the externally facing image, but its a far more nuanced and complex situation than what is happening in the major cities.