Apr 7, 2023, 3:26 PM@dr2chase @graydon @timbray This is never going to happen in a meaningful way due to (the lack of) home ventilation.
There is absolutely value to better ventilated public spaces to reduce risk for the immunocompromised, so we should continue doing it, but at a macro level the virus is going to forever have a fairly high baseline.
Given high wastewater numbers, the low case rates today are due to levels of immunity more than anything else.
@janakj @dr2chase @timbray
Today's low case rates are an artefact of not testing or reporting, not reality.
The extant housing stock is not fit for purpose in the Anthropocene, what with being dependent on combustion energy technology in some way, not being designed for the expected winds, and not being suitable provided with drainage.
It all needs to be replaced.
We might as well manage the ventilation requirements while we're at it. This won't be the last significant airborne pathogen.
Apr 7, 2023, 3:40 PM@graydon @dr2chase @timbray I agree case rates are not useful, but *both* test positivity and hospitalization metrics are steadily trending down as well. This means many people now likely “have” COVID as evidenced by their waste, but the immune system is keeping things in check.
Yes, everything needs to be replaced (higher insulation+ventilation) but my point is it’s not happening. I wish it were different, but the economic incentives aren’t there.
@janakj @dr2chase @timbray
RAT tests don't work reliably with current variants. Hospitals are very dangerous now and people don't go. Follow the excess deaths estimates.
Think about this for a second; "the economic incentives aren't there". To prevent something that's burning down the population life expectancy and will in time disable everyone.
The economy is something we made, it's not charge or momentum. We should consider that we're doing it wrong.