It is weaker. Precisely because of the efforts of governments to isolate, observe social distancing and wear masks.
This is not why it's weaker, the virus evolved to a less virulent strain over time, as is to be expected. This didn't happen BECAUSE of social distancing and masking. In fact, viruses evolve as they transmit.
If they'd done a better job to address it sooner, and if people like you chose being mildly inconvenienced over saving lives, who knows? COVID might have been eradicated altogether.
This was never realistic. Zero COVID was never possible as many people were symptomless. The only way it would've happened is if the entire world locked down simultaneously with no exceptions even for key workers.
I'm simply highlighting the fact that it's not a mild illness. People who are older, and those whose immune systems are weakened due to other diseases e.g. cancer are absolutely still dying of COVID.
You are using the effects of an older, stronger strain on an unvaccinated population to make the point that it is still deadly today. Your data is not pertinent to 2023. Some people still die of COVID absolutely, these people are generally very ill anyway and a flu could probably have similar effects. As it stands COVID is no longer a national health emergency.
We're in flu season, going into a cold winter. The governments aren't enforcing lockdown and isolating and aren't reporting the rise in COVID cases. Go to any hospital and ask them how bad it is already. People are still dying my dude.
Are you seriously suggesting we lock down every single flu season? Lunacy of the highest order
At the height of COVID, there were people hooked up to respirators, still absolutely defiant that COVID even existed, refusing the vaccine even as it took their lives. Death by stupidity.
I agree they were stupid at the height of COVID.
I still can't believe people like you exist.
Why are you equating me to an anti vaccer or someone who has never taken the pandemic seriously? Nothing I have said has ever indicated that.
Take the virus seriously and it'll disappear. Ignore it and governments will be forced to enforce lockdown again.
No it won't and no they won't. We aren't in danger of any more lockdowns, we have vaccines and treatments. At this point for the vast majority of people in the country it is a mild illness.
This is not why it's weaker, the virus evolved to a less virulent strain over time, as is to be expected. This didn't happen BECAUSE of social distancing and masking. In fact, viruses evolve as they transmit.
This was never realistic. Zero COVID was never possible as many people were symptomless. The only way it would've happened is if the entire world locked down simultaneously with no exceptions even for key workers.
You are using the effects of an older, stronger strain on an unvaccinated population to make the point that it is still deadly today. Your data is not pertinent to 2023. Some people still die of COVID absolutely, these people are generally very ill anyway and a flu could probably have similar effects. As it stands COVID is no longer a national health emergency.
Are you seriously suggesting we lock down every single flu season? Lunacy of the highest order
I agree they were stupid at the height of COVID.
Why are you equating me to an anti vaccer or someone who has never taken the pandemic seriously? Nothing I have said has ever indicated that.
No it won't and no they won't. We aren't in danger of any more lockdowns, we have vaccines and treatments. At this point for the vast majority of people in the country it is a mild illness.