A million American deaths later, COVID complacency settles in

1,031,613

Look at that number again and consider that is how many Americans have died from COVID. 1,031,613. To put that number in some perspective, consider that total is more than all the combat deaths combined in the following wars:

World War II — 405,000; World War I — 115,000; Vietnam — 58,000; Korea — 36,000; the American Revolution — 25,000; the War of 1812 — 20,000; Afghanistan — 2,400; and Iraq — 4,400. Indeed, that total is “only” 665,800.

Now, reflect, if you will, an average of 100,000 Americans is infected by the virus daily — more than five times the number we suffered through one year ago.

Think of the following fact: In August 2021, the death toll from COVID was between 700-1,000 per day and, at that point, 631,000 Americans had died. The virus was the third highest cause of deaths. Heart attacks and cancer were the top fatal diseases.

And yet…

Americans are proceeding with their lives as if it is all over.

Government health officials are silent.

Dr. Fauci (first name and ID not needed), apparently beaten down by politics, has not appeared for interviews.

More unsettling, we are being advised by the Faucis at the national level and even governors of some blue states, we don’t have to wear masks. The plea that Americans get vaccinated now comes as an afterthought

The media, which early in the pandemic breathlessly reported daily on the devastating infection and death toll, no longer consider the story newsworthy.

For instance, The New York Times, in March 2020, devoted an entire page to COVID victims when the country reached 100,000 deaths which The Times described as a “grim milestone.” Now, there is little mention of the pandemic in its news pages.

Mask mandates have been lifted. Americans travel and meet in large groups with abandon.

About a third of the country has yet to be vaccinated and much of the country goes maskless.

The anti-mask and anti-vaccination contingent maintains its “individual right” to infect others, causing serious illness and death. In its selfish, arrogant, self-centered and thoughtless posture, it ignores the number 1,031,613.

As a nation, the message seems to be that we need to accept that COVID is and will remain part of our lives — like the flu — and we might just as well learn to tolerate the consequences — as deadly as they are.

There are, of course, many reasons for the change in our public health posture and journalist Ed Yong deals with some of them in his March 8 article in Atlantic Magazine, “How Did This Many Deaths Become Normal.”

First and foremost, probably, involves politics. Leaders in blue states surrendered, perhaps reading the “tea leaves” which told them they were losing the battle. Progress to convince the unvaccinated to get shots was slow and, in many cases, stalled, and the feedback they were receiving was not very supportive of their pro-mask posture. What is a politician to do, especially one seeking re-election?

Next, the public tired of the negative messages; it was mentally exhausted. Even for Americans who believe that vaccinations and masks help, the constant repetition of the dire consequences we face, tired them out. Depression was just around the corner and they were prepared psychologically to “move on” to a happier, if unrealistic, state of mind.

Never mind that models project that 100 million — that’s 100 million — are expected to be infected in the coming fall/winter.

Of course, there are economic reasons as well. Business owners, even if they understand the risks, want to return to “normal” and welcome customers to bars, restaurants, theaters, sports arenas, etc., without inconveniencing customers by requiring them to show proof of vaccinations, wear masks or sit six feet apart.

Similarly, office managers want their employees to return to offices without the mask-vaccination requirement hanging over their heads.

The motivations behind the present public health posture are complex — ranging from psychological to economic — and the professionals in the field probably can cite many more reasons and more comprehensive explanations.

But the major point is: We are in the midst of a pandemic. It is not over. Another surge is lurking with new variants of COVID-19 spreading as well.

So, I have one question: If 1,031,613 is not sufficient for us to take the actions necessary to eradicate this virus, what is the number?