As more and more places relax the restrictions put in place to get us through the pandemic, it is good to keep in mind that the end of the pandemic is going to require some adjustment. There really will be a "new" normal. A lot of things will end up being the same as they were in 2019, but a lot of things won't. WHO described the end of the 2009 swine flu pandemic as the "post-pandemic period." There were signs of post-traumatic growth. People grew through adversity and learned to be more resilient. There was, and I can see this one happening again now, a deeper appreciation for everyday things.
The pandemic has expanded our vocabulary of psychological terms. For example, "cave syndrome" refers to the fear of going out among the unvaccinated. I'd rather just stay here in my cave, thank you very much. The "coronaphobic" carries an intense fear of catching the virus. "Covid stress syndrome" refers to the higher levels of general anxiety and depression due to the pandemic; the Covid Stress Scales can be used to assess the level.
WHO is deliberating on what rules might govern the next pandemic with a target of May 2024. Let's hope we don't need those rules before then. On a much shorter time scale, the CDC is expected to announce new guidance tomorrow including on masks. It's predicted that the CDC will adjust the way it assesses "community levels of disease." Mitigation measures would be proposed tailored to the level of disease in each individual county.
Around the world, Iceland will lift all remaining restrictions tomorrow including lifting all border measures with no additional restrictions for unvaccinated travelers. Hong Kong is evoking emergency powers to permit doctors and nurses from mainland China to practice in Hong Kong. Anti-vaccine protests in New Zealand continue; acts of protest include tailing the prime minister's van as she visited a preschool. Japan will ease border controls next month. International travelers showing proof of full vaccination will be allowed into the country and will face a shorter quarantine period. WHO is opening a hub in South Korea to train countries to make their own mRNA vaccines. Last but certainly not least, South African data suggests that BA.2 is capable of causing more severe disease than BA.1 Omicron.
The results of a couple of new polls may or may not be surprising. A Yahoo News/YouGov poll had 46 percent of respondents saying that Americans should "learn to live with" the pandemic "and get back to normal." At the same time, 43 percent think that "we need to do more to vaccinate, wear masks, and test." In a Monmouth University poll, 70 percent agreed with the statement that "it's time we accept Covid is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives." We will need to learn to live with covid eventually and get back to whatever normal might be. I'm just not sure I, personally, am ready right now. If I were, I would be at a quilt show in Hampton, Virginia, helping a friend run her vendor's booth.
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