08-06-2021, 07:43 PM
From my UH Public Health Prof:
"You are on a plane, and the, “Fasten Seat Belt,” sign is on. Everyone complies because we all want to be safe and because the plane won’t move until the flight attendants have walked down the aisles. During the flight, it is recommended that you keep your seat belt fastened while in your seat.
The plane now hits turbulence, the experienced pilot turns on the ,”Fasten Seatbelt,” sign. Everyone complies because we all want to be safe and because we don’t want to be tossed around the cabin. When the turbulence subsides, then the captain will turn off the sign.
The turbulence caused by the pandemic subsided and we started to feel some semblance of normality. Unfortunately, we need to turn on the “Fasten Seatbelt” sign again, because the new turbulence is what we are finding out about the new Covid-19 variants.
The original coronavirus targeted the elderly, sick and frail. The Covid-19 Delta variant is attacking the groups that are left. Younger, sicker, quicker. Delta is more transmissible (ability to spread) and more virulent (ability to kill) than the original. The immunized can still get infected and spread the disease, but are highly unlikely to get hospitalized or die.
Fasten Seatbelts:
1. Wear a mask always whenever you leave your house.
2. If not already, get immunized
3. Avoid gatherings of people, especially inside (the virus is aerosolized in the air and infected people without symptoms still spread it)
Parting Thoughts:
· We cannot reach “herd immunity.” This is because vaccinated people can still get infected, leading to a lot more people spreading the disease to others.
· Over 95% of Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths are in the unvaccinated. Over the next few months, the Delta variant will infect pockets of unvaccinated populations (& the Lambda variant may have even more to worry about)
· Over time, the virus will move from a pandemic to an “endemic.”
· There may arise a variant that targets our children and infants (under 12 years old). This would be the worse-case scenario"
"You are on a plane, and the, “Fasten Seat Belt,” sign is on. Everyone complies because we all want to be safe and because the plane won’t move until the flight attendants have walked down the aisles. During the flight, it is recommended that you keep your seat belt fastened while in your seat.
The plane now hits turbulence, the experienced pilot turns on the ,”Fasten Seatbelt,” sign. Everyone complies because we all want to be safe and because we don’t want to be tossed around the cabin. When the turbulence subsides, then the captain will turn off the sign.
The turbulence caused by the pandemic subsided and we started to feel some semblance of normality. Unfortunately, we need to turn on the “Fasten Seatbelt” sign again, because the new turbulence is what we are finding out about the new Covid-19 variants.
The original coronavirus targeted the elderly, sick and frail. The Covid-19 Delta variant is attacking the groups that are left. Younger, sicker, quicker. Delta is more transmissible (ability to spread) and more virulent (ability to kill) than the original. The immunized can still get infected and spread the disease, but are highly unlikely to get hospitalized or die.
Fasten Seatbelts:
1. Wear a mask always whenever you leave your house.
2. If not already, get immunized
3. Avoid gatherings of people, especially inside (the virus is aerosolized in the air and infected people without symptoms still spread it)
Parting Thoughts:
· We cannot reach “herd immunity.” This is because vaccinated people can still get infected, leading to a lot more people spreading the disease to others.
· Over 95% of Covid-19 hospitalizations and deaths are in the unvaccinated. Over the next few months, the Delta variant will infect pockets of unvaccinated populations (& the Lambda variant may have even more to worry about)
· Over time, the virus will move from a pandemic to an “endemic.”
· There may arise a variant that targets our children and infants (under 12 years old). This would be the worse-case scenario"
