> why don't we just accept it as part of our lives like we did with the flu? Because several areas are very near 100% hospital capacity with COVID patients sti

> why don't we just accept it as part of our lives like we did with the flu? Because several areas are very near 100% hospital capacity with COVID patients still, and a COVID ICU visit is much more demanding from a timespan and resource perspective in terms of staff and equipment. We can't risk relaxing restrictions when hospitals are unable to bear an increase in patients. From a cynical point of view, COVID policy is about protecting infrastructure - and only save lives as a side effect. This is why many places had specific policy for essential services and essential workers, daycare and schooling, transportation, - as well as putting restrictions on private industry which in some countries has become significantly more centralized like meat processing.