I struggle with the "we're turning the corner on COVID-19" narrative because the NYT reports we'll likely never reach herd immunity, variants are increasing and soon may resist vaccines, and about 5,000 people died of COVID-19 in the US in the last week—undercount *not* included.
(PS) I think we can and should celebrate the vaccination program—and everyone should get vaccinated!—even as we note that it's slowing down, booster shots will be required in 9 to 12 months (which could lead to some attrition), and "re-openings" could spike infections pre-winter.
(PS2) My feeling is that we should acknowledge that the world has changed—possibly forever—and continue to see it as a national imperative that we acknowledge the changes head on rather than petulantly pretending that the pre-2020 world is coming back. I don't believe that it is.
(PS3) There's no question that increased awareness, increased vaccinations, increased treatments, and continued study/international cooperation can ensure we in the U.S. don't hit the tragic heights we once did. But the numbers can still be staggering for the foreseeable future.
(PS4) 5,000 deaths/week is over a *quarter of a million American dead* annually—a million each 48 months. And here's the problem: that's an undercount. Scientific research confirms that the real number is 10%-20% higher.

Such a rate of death isn't tolerable or a "turned corner."
(PS5) I bet a lot of people believe that the United States had 50,000 new COVID-19 cases this week.

No.

We had 50,000 new COVID-19 cases *yesterday*.
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