Parisian Cafés and the second law of thermodynamics…

Starting Monday, new COVID-19 restrictions at your favorite café prohibit eating at the counter…

…a far cry from last flu season when you couldn’t sit inside, only outside seating or take away.

Also cinemas are requiring masks at all times, so no concessions, no popcorn…

…remember last flu season when they had to close their doors?

Perhaps we are learning to treat flu season differently from the rest of the year, but hope prevails…

…God has bestowed grace on the situation in the form of the second law of thermodynamics : as one goes forward in time disorder increases. And virus mutations are not exempt.

Allow history to fuel your hope in the fact that mutations create weaker strains and fewer deaths in all other Coronavirus pandemics in the past…

2003 SARS — 24 months
2009 H1N1 — 16 months
2019 COVID-19 — going on 25 months… but there is hope in sight.

Let’s take a look around. Here are a couple things that we are learning.
— The original strain was more virulent than any documented. I remember when the army had to set up mobil hospital tents. Severe cases continued skyrocketing after two weeks of being isolated in our homes. Thank God this is not our reality anymore.
— Even countries that have a 90-95% vaccination rate are still seeing the virus circulating rapidly. Hallelujah, vaccinations certainly help people with comorbidities stay out of the hospital, it just doesn’t stop the spread as we hoped.
— When we first heard of this illusive herd immunity we imagined that vaccinating our immediate neighbors would hold the virus at arms length. But if you research what we learned from the smallpox vaccine campaign from 1796-1977, those with access to a vaccine had to vaccinate continuously for centuries until they organized a global effort in 1958-1977.
— Comparing case numbers is unreliable, because the more you test the more you find. Which is great if it keeps down the spread, but just not good data for a month by month comparison.
— Boy did this pandemic prompt me to research a lot about past pandemics. Did you know that the H1N1 vaccine is simply included in the regular seasonal flu shot along with a cocktail of other coronaviruses and influenza strains? I never knew that. I thought we eradicated H1N1 but we didn’t; we just waited until it attenuated (fancy scientific word for a virus weakening). And I wonder if this is a contributing factor to why many countries who remember first hand the SARS and H1N1 outbreaks, are choosing social distancing but not mandating vaccination.

As always, don’t take my word for it. Always check the sources, mine and everyone else’s.

We are bearers of the light. We stand up for truth. We defend liberty, equality, and fraternity…

…Let’s choose social distancing measures that do not infringe on civil liberties. If we believe all people are created equal then we can never entertain the idea that health status would become the new nobility.

We are obliged to find a way without vilifying people based on their health status. Is the dialog is intended to pressure the last 5-10% to vaccinate? For the last few months those same unvaccinated people have been the only ones who have proved they’re not carriers at cultural events. You have to respect that…

…Maybe with the new home tests coming out, we could all offer each other the same courtesy. I mean, sure it would skyrocket the cases found in a day, but don’t panic when it does because what you’re not seeing are the negative cases reported that day skyrocketing as well.

Patience. Certainly this COVID-19 was more virulent than other coronaviruses and so it stands to reason that it is estimated that it will take longer to attenuate…

…Yes we don’t deny it’s circulating, but don’t loose the longterm perspective which reveals that each wave is easier to navigate than the last.

This is no time to panic. Fear paralyzes, divides, and isolates. Continue good social distancing habits and continue to shower lonely loved ones with love.

Did you know that the Omicron patients with psychiatric comorbidities have worse outcomes? Don’t give up meeting with your friends. Be an agent of healing in those around you who are suffering. Surround them with love. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.

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