Somewhat better does not equal jes' fine

Yes, there's somewhat good news: new cases in the U.S. and hospitalizations are falling, and daily deaths -- a lagging indicator are just starting to fall a bit as well.

 

 

This is presumably happening because we're past the holiday surge, and more people are taking this seriously now. I can tell you that masking is now universal in my neck of the woods, but it didn't used to be. The political statement made by not wearing masks seems less popular now that  a certain presence has been deplatformed. On the other hand, the good people of Tampa were widely photographed celebrating their historic victory in maskless throngs.

And that's what I want to make sure we all keep in mind. The daily case rate is down but it's where it was in November when we all found it appalling and terrifying. Deaths are still very close to their highest level. It's too soon for vaccination to have much impact. (I'm now eligible but I haven't been able to get an appointment yet, btw.) But we're seeing governors move to open up indoor dining and otherwise jump the gun on relaxing mitigation measures. 

 

Of course we all want this to be over but it isn't, and if we pretend it is we'll just prolong the agony. That has always been the trap and it's why we've suffered so badly. If we'd taken the tough measures they took in Australia and South Korea in the beginning, we wouldn't be in this mess. That obviously translates into a failure of leadership, but there's no use relitigating that right now. Stay the course, for maybe three or four more months. And remember, the more transmission, the more viral replication, the more mutation. So there's another layer of very good reason to shut this down as much as possible. 

And you don't just have to take it from me.

(CNN)Experts warned the US needs to be very wary of another possible surge in Covid-19 cases fueled by variants, and urged local and state leaders not to ditch their safety measures and restrictions. "We're ... seeing what happens in other countries when these variants take over," emergency physician Dr. Leana Wen told CNN Monday night. "There is (an) explosive surge, even when the countries are basically in shutdown."