I have heard it said.that it’s never too late.to resume taking precautions,.but I’m sorry to say.this simply isn’t true,.for it is precisely because.of the risk.of that ultimate too late.that it is so important.to resume taking precautions. *. Week 284….

When you hear it said.that so far this year.there have been “more.than 3.7 million Covid cases.reported in the US,”.the thing to focus on.is the word “reported,”.for as bad as 3.7 million is.it likely does not include.your coworker’s “weird cold”.or your cousin’s “summer bug.”.

If the lack of data.makes it difficult for you to know.exactly how bad.the current Covid wave is,.just look at the newspaper.of record’s recent headline:.“Covid is spreading again.this summer,”.and remember.if they have to admit.the virus isn’t gone.this wave must be pretty bad.

The headline .“US confirms nation’s first.travel-associated.human screwworm case,”.may tempt you to say.“we’re screwed,”.but let us hope.this incident doesn’t provide us.with further proof.that the fasteners.holding together.our public health infrastructure.have come unscrewed.

I asked the teacher.how the start of her year.is going, and she replied.with various comments.before noting.that she has been doing this.for long enough.that she can remember.how it used to be unusual.for so many kids.to be out sick.at the start of the school year.

I know, my friend,.you are listening.for the blare of celestial trumpets .or the roar of nuclear bombs.boldly announcing.the world’s end,.but listen closely, my friend,.and you can hear.the buzz of steady ripping.quietly confirming.the world as you knew it.is currently ending.

For years now.I’ve heard people say.that we need not worry.about this virus.because “we have the tools,”.but today I saw a headline .which read: “Trump and RFK Jr. to ban Covid-19 vaccine.‘within months,’”.so I suppose that soon.we will find ourselves saying .“we had the tools.”.

I asked a religious friend .(who has more patience than I).how she manages.to maintain her peace.when she encounters.ostensible friends and allies.who are dismissive of this virus.and she told me.that she prays,.she prays they will never.have to discover.how very wrong they are.

A word of advice.to teachers and students.who are still masking:.when you are asked.(and you will be asked).why you are still masking,.calmly and politely explain.that you are masking.because you have.at risk people in your life,.because you do.because all of us do.

A teacher once told me.there is a difference.between saying.“you’re doing good”.and “you’re doing well,.but a doctor told me.if you’re taking precautions.you can say either:.by protecting yourself (hopefully).“you’re doing well,”.and by protecting others.“you’re doing good.”.

When you hear people say.that “Covid isn’t going anywhere”.politely tell them.that is only part of the issue,.for the problem with Covid.is it goes to offices.and to schools,.it goes to movie theaters.and to grocery stores,.Covid isn’t going anywhere.for it keeps going everywhere.

I called a friend to see.how her father’s recovery.from surgery was going.and in reply she told me.that the surgery went well.that the surgery went quite well.though unfortunately.while at the hospital.it seems that her father.contracted Covid again.

I’ve heard that the problem.with students these days.is that they’ve all.had phones for years. I’ve heard that the problem.with students these days.is that they’ve all.had Covid multiple times. So I asked my friend.a masked teacher.which one is the problem.and she replied: yes.

Perhaps you are right,.my friend,.and we are walking.towards a better world. And .perhaps you are wrong,.my friend,.and we are walking.towards a worse world. But .take care as you step,.my friend,.for the world.we are walking through.is in the midst of a pandemic.

According to the Journal.of the American Medical Association.where once asthma.was the most common.chronic disease in children.that title has now been claimed.by Long Covid,.which is yet another reminder.that you may have heard.“the kids are alright”.but they really aren’t.

I read a recent study.titled “Silent Invasion:.COVID-19’s.Hidden Damage .to Human Organs,”.but should you try.to inform people.of these findings.they will tell you.to be silent.

The meeting began.with an icebreaker:.“which horror movie.do you think you could survive?”.and as I looked around.at all the maskless faces.I was tempted to say.that I was focused.on surviving a virus movie,.but instead I just said:.“Jaws, I’d stay out of the water.”.

I keep hearing people say.that they .are young and healthy .and so they aren’t worried .about catching the virus,.and I wish .I knew how to tell them.that there are many people.who are young.but no longer healthy .who once thought .that exact same thing.

It is not so much.that I am in.my mask era,.as that I understand.that all of us.are still in.the Covid era.

As I sat in the meeting.I reminded myself.that Covid positivity.in the state where I live.is currently higher.than 32%,.yes, that is what.I reminded myself.everytime I heard a cough.as I sat in that meeting .in which far less.than 32%.of attendees were wearing masks.