Merge was right then, shu1993 is right now. Data evolves…
COVID-19 is now an issue for unvaccinated AND vaccinated. Still much worse for unvaccinated obviously. So through luck and evolving data (which shu1993 couldn’t have known at the time) shu1993 turned out to be right with time.
The change with the CDC and mask guidance came about bc now there is evidence that show it IS possible to not just carry covid-19 if vaccinated but spread the disease too with Delta variant which is like 80% of cases now (Delta has much higher viral load I think double the other variants).
Vaccines still do a great job in protecting individual from severe disease very well but in my opinion bc I have kids, one of the worst news we could get (that I could spread it to others still). I was super happy knowing i couldn’t spread it to others if vaccinated with earlier reports.
Sooo, if you don’t care about others, particularly unvaccinated others you surround yourself with, the pandemic is over if you are vaccinated (and get the third booster shot 6-12 months from original ones that is 😆). I think Merge cares about others so he is wrong.
IMHO, I think it will spike up more for a few weeks than slow down around the start of school. If kids are masked in school I think it will flatten a little in fall. If they are unmasked like in southern states not allowing it, it will spike again putting us in an ongoing roller coaster ride we can’t get off for at least 3-6 months more.
Those mask haters should really put their anger on the unvaccinated and individuals advancing antivax sentiment than to the CDC and local officials putting mask mandates and guidance in place to protect us.