Diaries After the Lockdown

The CDC is now recommending that even fully vaccinated persons should once again start to wear masks indoors because of the emerging highly-infectious Delta variant. David goes on a rant, reasoning, “I got the vaccine, why should I wear a mask to protect people who refuse to get vaccinated?”

Deborah and David are very sad to learn that their very good friend, Nancy, has been diagnosed with a serious illness and is facing a poor prognosis. They consider making a road trip down to North Carolina to visit her. David runs some mental simulations of the risks posed by such a trip.

Deborah and David intend to host a family dinner. They are now more than two weeks past their second vaccination, as are many of their friends and family members. Why is this all still so confusing?

In a moment of whimsy, David starts to think about what would happen if we had the ability to clearly specify how everyone must behave? Would it be possible to then behave in a way that would end the pandemic? Could human agency overpower this pandemic? Or is the pandemic stronger than we are collectively?

Deborah and David both get a message from the University informing them that weekly saliva-based tests are necessary for all faculty and staff who may be on campus. Driving to campus to pick up their test kits, they are impressed by the science and resources being used to combat the COVID-19 virus in our area.