Here we are in the grip of yet another covid-19 surge, yet most people I see out and about are behaving as if the pandemic is over. And I live in Los Angeles County, whose public health department is arguably one of the most vigilant and proactive in the U.S.
We all have pandemic fatigue. Even people who should know better have let precautionary measures slide. If you are sensing a mea culpa on the way, I won’t disappoint.
I confess I have been far less cautious over the past couple of months than I was early on. I have left home without a mask on a trip to the grocery or pharmacy, and instead of returning to get one, I’ve walked in unmasked, telling myself I’d be there for only a short time.
In June, I took a 12-hour trans-Atlantic flight on which virtually no passengers or crew members were masked. I wore my mask initially, a snug-fitting KN95. But after eating, I kinda sorta forgot to put it back on. In July, with covid clearly surging, I hosted a birthday party for my daughter without asking guests to test themselves before coming to the house.
And there’s more where that came from.
Whether through luck or booster-bolstered immunity, I have managed to evade the virus. But worrisome reports …