but it is very likely we are about to see a resurgence of Covid-19 -- not just infections, but serious illness, hospitalization, and death. We're all pretending it's over, and people are going to keep pretending even when it's obviously not, and that's going to make it much more difficult to respond adequately.
Eric Topol explains the problem. It's a long read, but in a nutshell, the problem is that the virus mutates rapidly and variant that's currently becoming dominant eludes immunity from vaccination and prior infection. The vaccine still offers some protection -- you should definitely get your booster and if you got it a while ago, get a fourth shot. But its effectiveness against severe illness is less than it was against prior strains, and with high prevalence the risk of further mutations is also high. Existing treatments are also ineffective against it.
There is hope in the form of potential nasal vaccines. By creating immunity in the nasal mucosa, these may block transmission very effectively. But there's no Operation Warp Speed to bring them to use quickly. Congress has also declined to continue funding for other programs such as vaccination outreach and testing. This is just stupid. So get your booster, if you or someone in your household is vulnerable you should wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces (and maybe you should anyway), and don't risk exposure unnecessarily. Sorry, but it isn't over.
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