covid 19-we are there or almost there

COVID 19-WE ARE THERE OR ALMOST THERE

this is a photo i took of a drawing on a driveway a few blocks from us
the artist had planned if i remember the story correctly to do a drawing at the i madonnari at the santa barbara mission memorial day weekend 2020
it was canceled due to the pandemic the last two years

in 2020 the artists decided to do their pictures around town for folks to drive around to see them
this artist did hers on her driveway

it represents to me the covid 19 vanishing down the rabbit hole
it hasnt done that yet but hopefully it will soon

this year we look forward to hiking up to the mission in a couple of weeks to see the artists doing their drawings
we tend to go a day early so we can avoid the crowds and also commonly we can visit with the artists as they do their drawings

if will help to feel like we are getting back to normal


however
we arent 
we may not ever get back to where we were no matter how much we try 

according to which counter you look at 
i look at the john hopkins or the cdc covid death counters
we should hit in the next few days that million deaths from covid in the us

no one really predicted that we would reach that mark
not many predicted this would all get politicized

a good portion of those who have died and who will die were and are unvaxxed
thats the major reason that the death rate from covid is so high

dont want to die from covid
get vaxxed and boosted

with the omicron and its subvariants two covid shots may not be enough
you need that third booster and a fourth booster if you qualify for the fourth one

it seems the vaxxinated who are dying are usually at high risk and have not been boosted
i repeat
it seems the vaxxinated who are dying are usually at high risk and have not been boosted

if congress doesnt pass more funding access to these boosters may be limited some
so
if you are high risk and or older than 50 you should get your fourth booster asap

when the subvariant surge occurs here in the us you need to be ready if you are high risk
high risk means also if you are old

its hitting europe now and will move eventually here
it is more contagious than any variant so far
luckily its not causing as many hospitalizations or death in those with immunity from previous infection and immunizations

the best protection is
to be fully vaxxed and fully boosted
be safe in high risk activities especially if you are high risk

remember even if you are low risk you can carry it to a vulnerable loved one who may get sicker if they get infected

for me
i avoid large gatherings especially inside
there will be covid there
folks will get sick from the exposure 
those who suffer will be the vulnerable

i wear a mask when i go in stores or in high risk situations

i freely attend outside gatherings unmasked

i dont feel comfortable yet to fly but i would fly if i had to fly

if i catch covid i will seek out the antiviral drug paxlovid to take for 5 days
it needs to be taken as soon as you are diagnosed
its for high risk folks 
like me since i am 72 years old
it can shorten the days you are sick and can prevent hospitalization and death

i look forward to the day this covid gets like the flu

we arent there yet
300+- folks dying a day from covid is still too many folks dying

soon
hopefully soon 
we will be there

the organicgreen doctor