Let's be clear. SARS-CoV-2 is an atrociously bad virus. It can damage any number of organ systems, increases risk for all kinds of illnesses, and is causing a mass disabling event. And that's just what we know about it so far. You do not want to get it, and if you've had it you don't want it again.

Unfortunately, leaders, public health officials, and the large majority of the population think it's over and have deemed continued mitigation measures to be unnecessary. The most vulnerable have no choice but to be very cautious and they are being left behind. Many others are doing their best in order to protect themselves and others, but are also in an impossible situation.

Things are complex and dynamic, everyone's lived experience is different, and most folks who remain COVID aware are trying to balance many different and often conflicting priorities. We're often the lone masker indoors, or the ones declining to attend crowded events, or asking our kids to keep wearing their masks in school, or monitoring what information we still have available and trying to make evidence-based decisions for our families.

My concern is that all or nothing will mean nothing for all. So in practical terms that means we need to support and empower and encourage the people who are still doing what they can. For that reason, much of what I am saying now is aimed at the people who wonder if they can and should keep being cautious (yes and yes) even if they can't do it perfectly or they have to balance other things (like work, kids, family and friendship, mental health).

Every bit that we each do is important, but ultimately we aren't going to succeed if our approach relies on individual choices. For that reason I am also focused more on the need for structural improvements like clean indoor air (ventilation, filtration, UV, air quality reporting), wastewater monitoring, genomic surveillance, and vaccines that are not just chasing variants.

We won't all agree on strategic priorities, but I do believe we all share many of the big picture concerns and goals.