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> on top of the vaccination levels we have now, we can get the same epidemiological slowdown without the socioeconomic costs via some modest distancing indoors

> on top of the vaccination levels we have now, we can get the same epidemiological slowdown without the socioeconomic costs via some modest distancing indoors and mask wearing by public-facing workers (like cashiers) and in social settings (like at home, not generally out in public where it does practically nothing), but that doesn't have nearly the same political punch. Maybe if people were willing to wear masks and socially distance, but even this has caused tremendous pushback, with for example DeSantis and Abbott trying to ban mask mandates in their states. So sure, if you could get people to mask up and socially distance, perhaps it would achieve the same goal (not sure if this is actually the case, but just taking that at face value), but that’s currently a harder task given that it’s a thing people need to keep doing, dat after day, as opposed to convincing them to get the vaccine once (well, twice, but you know what I mean).

clairity 5y ago
just to be clear, i'm not suggesting that modest distancing and masking would eradicate the virus long-term. it would just provide the same level of drawing out as the announced mandates, but without the fanfare. absent a veritable miracle, i don't think anything gets us out of a 99+% infection rate long-term. folks worried about serious illness/death can (and do) vaccinate. as such we end up with the same outcome without mandates. hence the assertion that these mandates are purely political, not mitigative. also, no one of any political persuasion is masking or distancing at home or at private social gatherings, which is where a large portion of transmission happens, so it's not just a certain group of selfish bad people prolonging the pandemic. it's all of us who are not following this limited but most mitigative measure (as opposed to the performative ones).

clairity 5y ago

just to be clear, i'm not suggesting that modest distancing and masking would eradicate the virus long-term. it would just provide the same level of drawing out as the announced mandates, but without the fanfare. absent a veritable miracle, i don't think anything gets us out of a 99+% infection rate long-term. folks worried about serious illness/death can (and do) vaccinate. as such we end up with the same outcome without mandates. hence the assertion that these mandates are purely political, not mitigative. also, no one of any political persuasion is masking or distancing at home or at private social gatherings, which is where a large portion of transmission happens, so it's not just a certain group of selfish bad people prolonging the pandemic. it's all of us who are not following this limited but most mitigative measure (as opposed to the performative ones).