I encourage everyone to get vaccinated if they can, but the virus will never go away. You can't seriously expect asymptomatic people to continue wearing masks indefinitely.

https://www.businessinsider.com/delta-variant-made-herd-immu...

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/covid-19-will-just-end-up...

> You can't seriously expect asymptomatic people to continue wearing masks indefinitely.

Millions of people throughout Asia have been for decades though.

No we haven't. We wear masks when we have flu symptoms, not all the time.

It does seem likely that the virus will become endemic, though hopefully reduced to something like a common cold virus. It is possible to get something in between, though, where the virus only exists in certain regions and thereby contain it, though this seems to be getting less likely.

We might get some traction with a booster tailored to delta, but only time will tell.

You seemed to have confused me with someone that is opposed to the vaccination. I have been fully vaccinated for months.

Most people do confuse my positions because I disagree with both sides. I am one of the unorthodox Vaccinated Ant-Vaxxer's that believes people should get vaccinated but I also respect individual liberty to allow them the choose to no inject themselves with a medical treatment if they do not desire it. Since I oppose government mandates then I must be "Anti-Vaxx".....

Crazy I know, to respect peoples body autonomy in 2021 during a pandemic no less......

I also have a high degree bullshit detector, and can not stand hypocrisy which I see ALOT of logical hypocrisy around covid.

>>do what you can to lower the replication rate of this stupid virus below 1 so that it goes away. That last part is proving really hard so far.

it is not "proving hard" it was always impossible and anyone to tell you otherwise is lying. SARS-COVID-V2 is endemic, and will likely settle out with annual deaths being over that of seasonal flu. This idea that we can "beat" COVID like we have beat other things like polio is just wrong.

> it is not "proving hard" it was always impossible

Well there's the Australian method, but I'd prefer things not go that way. I agree that people should have informed consent for vaccinating, that's why I try to inform people so that they consent.

>Well there's the Australian method,

I dont believe that is either practical or sustainable. Nor is it compatible with a society that has any respect for individualism which we in America do.

AU will be unlikely to keep their draconian measures in place forever, either economic reality, or social unrest will force a change

> AU will be unlikely to keep their draconian measures in place forever, either economic reality, or social unrest will force a change

It's worked well for us in Western Australia, and we're effectively a covid-free island with one of the best individual economies in the world right now.

The restrictions will be relaxed as we get 80% vaccinated - which we're very likely to do, this year.

Also the Australian method has given us less COVID deaths in the past two years than America had, yesterday. It is a pity that those 600k Americans that died won't be able to bask in America's superior environment of individual rights.

So you believe that Zero COVID deaths is the singular goal, to cast off all Human Rights, freedoms, and liberties in pursuit of that goal is ethical position?

That safety and security is triumphant over freedom and liberty?

That life is so dear, and safety so sweet, that is to be purchased at the price of chains and Tyranny complete with camps for which you send people?

Yes have pity and sadness for those have died, but I know what course I prefer.. for me give me liberty or give me death for I would rather die free, than a serf in a gilded cage

That's a pretty poetic way to say you're fine with letting 600 000 people have zero freedom. Australia will be opened up and 90% vaccinated with maybe 3k deaths. Unfortunately Little Caesars went bankrupt here, during that time, but I guess that's liberty dying on the altar of public safety. Enjoy the ultimate sacrifice those people made for two years of unlimited Applebees.

It is pretty short sighted if you believe the only businesses and people financially impacted and bankrupted in Australia were Little Caesars, I can assure you that is false

I am sure you likely enjoy a tech sector job which afford you the privilege of sitting on your bum all day having very little impact to your financial life, others are not an privileged.

> It is pretty short sighted if you believe the only businesses and people financially impacted and bankrupted in Australia were Little Caesars, I can assure you that is false

Oh cheers, I didn't know. I will reconsider my position on the 600k dead Americans.

Could you just humor me and do a little back of the envelope calculation of the loss of economy in the US vs AU vs the number of deaths? Hint: Australia's economy is doing fine. Let me know how much each life was worth.

> (N95 preferably, but at least surgical),

I wouldn't even go as low to recommend surgical (at least not without a mask fitter)

KF94, KN95 (reputable), FFP2, or an higher quality N95 NIOSH (shame they won't make those for kids)