
<p class="wp-block-paragraph">It has been a while since I have commented on the Covid-19 issue. ; It is still a mainstay in the mainstream media – and almost as fearsome as ever in the leftwing press. ; That is because certain portions of the politico-medical community are keeping pandemic panic alive.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Throughout the two-plus-year pandemic, there has been confusion – too much confusion. ; Much of it is driven by politics-over-science – too much politics-over-science. ; But as the pandemic (if it can even be called that anymore) wanes, the confusion reigns.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Those who have followed my commentaries for the past couple years, know that I have never been an alarmist. ; I have often used the scientific and statistical data to put things into perspective. ; That means I used reasonable mitigating measures – mostly in obedience to imposed regulations out of concern for my well-being. ; I masked when required to do so. ; And did not, when not. ; Never outside. ; Same with social distancing. ; I continued to shake hands, hug and kiss (although not many opportunities for the latter at my age.)</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Once I was vaccinated, I declared the pandemic over – for me. ; I still must mask where required, but I honestly think it is overdone. ; I was surprised and pleased that a senior residency where I visit a 91-year-old friend has ended indoor masking. ; My local Publix grocery store has done away with all signs of the pandemic. ; No more one-way aisles – which were ended more than a year ago. ; No more masks – which ended within the past year. ; But the final concessions to Covid are now gone. ; No more spacing markers on the floor. ; No more plastic shields between cashiers and customers. ; ;</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">You may have also noticed that the daily hospitalization and death counts have disappeared from the television screens. ; Even the once ubiquitous Dr. Anthony Fauci has exited from the public stage – for the most part. ; I guess that there is no longer enough bad news to report. ; Fearmongering is much more difficult in the face of the new reality.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">But that does not mean it is over. ; Even as the Covid ceases to be a pandemic – and maybe not even an epidemic – the fearmongers are still at it. ; It may be – as some suggest – that we should think of the Covid family of viruses as a perennial disease – much like the common flu, which is sometimes mild and sometimes more serious. ; We just need to learn to live with it – and not from some medical bunkers that the fearmongers would keep us.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Here is the hard information the national media no longer finds sufficiently important to report. ; Currently (as of April 12), three-tenths of one percent of the American population has Covid – mostly the newest and most mild variant. ; The daily death tool has dropped to under 500 – 330 on April 12, to be precise.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, why do we have masking on public transportation? ; And it was actually extended recently by the Center for Disease Control (CDC). ; Why are some communities going back to pandemic-level regulations? ; Why are our school kids being tormented with mask-wearing … terrorized by fear of the virus … and damaged educationally and psychologically by harsh regulatory measures? ; Why are we being told that we need the booster (which I got) and a second booster (which I did not get) &#8212; and maybe boosters <em>ad infinitum</em>. ; We can understand Pfizer’s promotion of endless vaccinations – but that should not be the primary driver of policy.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Supposedly more than 70 percent of the American public is vaccinated. ; Many more have natural immunity from having had Covid. ; That should give us something close to herd immunity. ; At least that is what we were told.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We have entered an era of Covid hypocrisy – with no better example than the one coming from the White House. ; No adherence to indoor masking and social distancing. ; Then there was the smack heard around the world, (No, I do not mean Will Smith slapping Chris Rock). There was that kiss between President Biden and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi – who later tested positive. ; They know that Covid is not the dreaded grim reaper that it was a year or so ago. ; But they still want us, we the people, to be oppressed by the disease – or at least our governments imposition of increasingly irrelevant regulations.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">Perhaps the scariest example of government over-reach is proposals in California that would require all children to be fully vaccinated. ; Personally, if I had children in the under 10 age group, I would not have them vaccinated – and no one loves kids more than me.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">A lot of people scare easily. ; You see them donning masks that are ineffective in places where they are unnecessary. ; But I am okay with that. ; As I have said previously, if a person wants to don rain gear on a bright sunny day, that is their right. ; Just do not force me.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">We may never live in a Covid-free world, but we do not have to act like it is the scourge that it once was.</p>



<p class="wp-block-paragraph">So, there ‘tis.</p>

Is there a Covid crisis anymore?
