
<p>Yes … I know … we still have cases of Covid-19. But the virus has reduced to the level of our perennial influenza outbreaks. It is no longer a “pandemic” IN AMERICA. I am not writing about other nations around the world.</p>



<p>With more than 60 percent (about 212 million) of our population vaccinated – and another 27 million recoverees – we are approaching the cusp of herd immunity.</p>



<p>The positivity rate – the cases discovered by testing – has dropped below five percent. ; That was the number that the scientists told us in the past would allow TOTAL re-opening. ; That was then, but not so much now. ; The fearmongers are still calling for masks indoors, social distancing and keeping kids – the least affected age group – out of schools.</p>



<p>Out of an unwarranted “abundance of caution” many restaurants and retail establishment are still requiring masks. I can go mask free in my Publix grocery store, but not at my Walgreens. I still had to put a mask on for literally three seconds to pass through the door of a local restaurant. Then I removed it on my way to the table – where people with no masks surrounded me. That is just silliness.</p>



<p>The hospitalization and death rates are dropping faster than a lady-of-the-night facing a $20 bill. ; In the spirit of never giving up on a useful crisis, the major news media has virtually stopped reporting on the lowering death rate. ; That little screen-shrinking column on the right-hand side now focuses on vaccination numbers – and especially those who are NOT getting them. I swear … If these folks covered Santa Claus, it would be a report on the dangers of obesity.</p>



<p>President Biden’s senior Covid-19 advisor, Andy Slavitt, noted that “The virus is running out of places to be communicable.” He is referring to the low positivity rate. This means that whether you wear a mask or not, it is increasingly unlikely that you will even come in contact with an infected person in public. </p>



<p>Yes, it is possible. ; And yes, people are still contracting Covid.  ;And yes, there are hot spots – or more appropriately “warm spots.”</p>



<p>BUT … the odds of contracting the virus are getting very, very long. And they are virtually impossible for the more than 240 million folks who are vaccinated or recovered. That leaves about 90 million unvaccinated. More than half of them (50 million) are below the age of 12. And they are not eligible for the vaccine and are the least affected age group.</p>



<p>As I have so often stated. ; I have no problem with folks wearing masks if it makes them feel better for some reason. ; It may not be based on science, but it is a free country. ; Their masking is no harm to me. ; But I do object to being forced to carry and wear a mask when there is no good reason. ; As of this writing, Target still requires masks. ; Walmart does not. ; Based on that, I will not shop at Target. ; That is MY free choice.</p>



<p>Based on the science, since I am a fully vaccinated person, I have no need to wear a mask ANYWHERE – indoors, outdoors or in crowds. ; For me – and 240 million others – the Pandemic is essentially over. ; We now only need to wait for the politicians and the media to start listening to the scientists as they have so often told us to do – and to stop scaring the kids.</p>



<p>So, there ‘tis, ;</p>