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Home » covid-19 » Unthinkable: Should We Abandon All COVID Policies?
Coronaviruscovid-19Travel

Unthinkable: Should We Abandon All COVID Policies?

Kyle Stewart Posted onJanuary 2, 2022January 2, 2022 93 Comments

Most evidence heretofore has suggested that Omicron may be the mildest variant of COVID-19 and provide protection against other variants, should we just abandon all COVID-19 policies as a result? 


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omicron covid policies

Omicron Is Milder

While the world waits for definitive data, preliminary findings suggest that omicron is milder than other variants have been. That’s not to say it’s harmless, just that it’s less likely to cause serious illness or death. Many have reported positive test results despite no symptoms. In fact, some scientists have suggested that that up to 40% of those who may have COVID will never know it unless they are tested.

If one contracts a case so mild that they don’t even know they are ill unless they have to be tested for some other reason (workplace requirement, travel, contact tracing, etc.) is it really a risk? One might argue that a mild case for one person does not ensure a mild case for someone they might infect due to the overly contagious nature of this variant, and that makes sense but I haven’t seen data to support this either.

If anything, the data regarding mortality has gone in the opposite direction, lowering mortality from about 1.7% for those with positive cases to 1.2% and declining. December 31st, 2020 had a mortality rate of about 1.5% (3,462 deaths in 231,024 cases) vs. a shockingly low 0.2% (1,181 deaths in 443,538 cases) though I suspect the mortality rate will rise as deaths lag cases by about two weeks.

Vaccine Data Suggests Omicron Evades

Preliminary findings from Cambridge have suggested that omicron evades vaccines in some cases. The NHS (UK) has supported this as well.

Studies have been less clear about what vaccine has held up the best against omicron, they are presumably different in their levels of protection. None of these reports have been peer-reviewed, but given the timeline, they couldn’t possibly be – we have to choose to accept the information we have available or wait (possibly until it’s too late) to work through the peer-review process.

Boosters also provide varying levels of defense against the variant, but all vaccines have shown to wane in their efficacy against COVID generally.

Cruises are their own risk category now and the CDC doesn’t suggest anyone cruise regardless of vaccination status or mask usage.

Protection Against Delta

One interesting tidbit is that omicron appears to provide strong protection (4x) against the Delta variant, to this point considered to be the most dangerous for serious illness or death. How long this immunity lasts is unknown at this time, but simply by being more contagious and providing immunity against Delta, some believe it could smother the dangerous variant in favor of a milder one.

COVID-19 Policies Haven’t Worked Particularly Well

President Biden was clear when he imposed a ban on travel from South African nations that such policies will not stop the variant. His logic at the time was that it would allow the US to understand more about it before it becomes the dominant COVID variant in the country (it now is.) The President has since abandoned that policy.

Despite some of the strictest COVID constraints in the country (and frankly, the world) as well as one of the nation’s highest full vaccination rates, New York continues to set records for new cases. The latest numbers (January 1st, 2022) shatter prior records despite 71%(+) full vaccination compared with prior records set last year where the vaccine was only newly available to a select group of people.

Maskless Florida has seen a large number of cases but hasn’t outpaced New York (at time of publication.) Even Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (AOC) is going face bare in the Sunshine State.

Outside of KN-95 masks, the efficacy of masks is 0-37%. They aren’t really doing anything. Airplanes with HEPA filtration (all of them in the modern era) lower the risk even further. Despite close proximity, flights have been fairly limited points of transmission for passengers. Even football games with 70,000-100,000 shoulder-to-shoulder fans have not become superspreader events in the stands, though many players are out due to COVID protocols.

The CDC lowered its isolation period by 50% because it’s an unnecessary hurdle that has a negative effect on society at large and poses a limited risk. Self-isolation following a positive test result in many countries has dropped from 14 to 10 to 7 days.

Despite the White House’s statement that the vaccinated will get through this while the unvaccinated are in for a winter of serious illness and death, neither assertion appear to be entirely based on fact.

“If you are vaccinated, you could test positive.  But if you do get COVID, your case will likely be asymptomatic or mild.

We are intent on not letting Omicron disrupt work and school for the vaccinated.  You’ve done the right thing, and we will get through this.

For the unvaccinated, you’re looking at a winter of severe illness and death for yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm.”

The problem with the statement above (ignoring obvious antagonistic verbosity) is that omicron may naturally be a milder version resulting in positive tests with few to no symptoms anyway. That milder case may or may not be the result of vaccination or evading the vaccine, but alternatviely  could simply be a less lethal variant.

The Unthinkable, Unwritable, Impossible Notion

If omicron evades vaccines, and it is generally mild, and it gives protection against far more dangerous versions – shouldn’t we want to get this variant – all of us or as many as are infectable. The risk is that the omicron variant is not as negligible and that the true, damaging effects are yet unknown. But by the White House’s own admission, travel bans, and other mitigating factors including vaccination with boosters is not proving effective against omicron. There’s no stopping it, “it’s already here” as the White House proclaimed after just a few positive results.

We’ve tried just about every tactic and the evasion of vaccines demonstrates that this can no longer be categorized as a disease for the unvaccinated and unwilling. If ever there was a time and opportunity to give natural, herd immunity a reasonable chance, would this not be the perfect time to do so?

If we are to follow the science, is there a proven scientific reason for not attempting herd immunity instead? Natural immunity has been shown to be up to 13x more effective than vaccines, and there’s a real chance to snuff the virus out from a persistent global risk in favor of the lesser of two evils. Politically, this would be completely rejected but I postulate that scientifically it cannot be eliminated from consideration.

It’s not a popular thing to say or do, but is it the right thing?

Conclusion

I’m aware that this is a controversial topic that may stir emotions. It’s the unwritable, unthinkable approach. However, based on the evidence we have seen, I am not sure I see a better course of action. I argue that this is the time, the variant, the moment to try for herd immunity and remove all limitations in society. If this does not normalize infections and reduce COVID’s overall effect, return to the ones we’ve tried before despite their limited efficacy. However, if we have exhausted everything else, doesn’t the scientific method demand we also try this possibility as well?

What do you think? Is there enough evidence to suggest that omicron is milder? Would you support further demands (vaccines, boostes, work place restrictions) regardless? 

Responses are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser's responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.

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About Author

Kyle Stewart

Kyle is a freelance travel writer with contributions to Time, the Washington Post, MSNBC, Yahoo!, Reuters, Huffington Post, MapHappy, Live And Lets Fly and many other media outlets. He is also co-founder of Scottandthomas.com, a travel agency that delivers "Travel Personalized." He focuses on using miles and points to provide a premium experience for his wife and daughter. Email: sherpa@thetripsherpa.com

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93 Comments

  1. Dave Edwards Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:48 am

    Simple answer….yes. Most of us see this for what it is and have moved on and are living our normal lives. Travel numbers these past 2 weeks show it. The NFL got it right removing most testing and allowing players to come back quicker. The world always moves forward.

    • Richard Remmele Reply
      January 4, 2022 at 10:12 am

      1. Masks work (that is why health care workers have been wearing them since they found out in the 19th century that not wearing them was problematic for the worker and the patient and wide use prevents Florida like spread under carzy DeSantis)

      2. Vaxing helps avoid a really bad Covid infection and dealth. Vaxing everyone would end the pandemic. That is the way it has been done successfully for the past one hundred years. From the Spanish Flu to Polio to wiping out measles until anti-vax people in area clusters brought it back and killed some of their children

      If you don’t care about yourself, then care about other people that you come in contact with. You may inadvertenly cause a serios illness or dealth of someone that comes in contact with you because you and possibly the other person has not taken the precautions. DON’T BE SELFISH think of others

      • Ken Reply
        January 6, 2022 at 4:44 pm

        Masks work???? Not for the general public. High mask areas have same or higher case counts. Masks have been and are pure theater. The only rational approach would be to use every available resource towards treatments, hosptital resources and therapies for those who do get sick. The response to COVID has been a global diaster. Arrogant humans have not and wont to date beat a virus. Its here not and we will need to live with it. End the insanity NOW

        • Tom Reply
          January 6, 2022 at 5:26 pm

          Yes , Mask works

      • John 2 Reply
        January 6, 2022 at 4:59 pm

        Masks do NOT work – you are reading outdated material or are just hopeful.

      • Sharon R Danke Reply
        January 6, 2022 at 5:54 pm

        There were no vaccines for the Spanish Flu. Read this link to learn about the spanish flu. https://www.history.com/topics/world-war-i/1918-flu-pandemic

      • TJ Reply
        January 7, 2022 at 12:17 pm

        Please stay home and remove yourself from the flying public

      • Clay Reply
        January 10, 2022 at 4:38 pm

        Masks don’t work. I worked in a psychiatric hospital for the first year and a half of this. Staff were required to wear surgical masks, N95’s, goggles/face shields, gowns and gloves and clients still contracted COVID while in the facility. None of the mandates or approaches that governments have utilized to mitigate the spread have proven effective. In addition to this the IFR is relatively low at 0.26%. Omicron is even milder still. You can argue these statistics if you want but simple math will identify that it is factual and has remained that way throughout the pandemic. Even the most conservatives estimates are that at least five times more people have contracted COVID than the graphs/charts show because they are asymptomatic and are not tested (don’t get me started on the PCR it’s limitations identified by Dr. Kary Mullis who created it). In addition to this the report that the WHO completed in June of 2020 was accurate when it indicated that asymptomatic transmission was rare. Just as in all viruses asymptomatic transmission is extremely rare. Viruses mutate naturally to become less severe so that it don’t kill it’s host and subsequently itself. A scratchy throat and fatigue do not constitute a crisis. Mass psychosis has taken root on a global scale and people have forgotten how to think for themselves. The media and politicians love attention. If it bleeds it leads.

    • FF Reply
      January 7, 2022 at 9:57 am

      Agree… We need to move on with life… Mask simply don’t work, hardly anyone is wearing them properly, how can you tell that masks are or aren’t working in the first place? Just because 40% of the population are drinking the Cool Aid and wearing their masks properly and watching and believing everything they read in the liberal media, they feel masks work?!? Well, those fools can wear masks… As for the rest of us, removes the mandates and let’s get on with life!

      • TJ Reply
        January 7, 2022 at 12:18 pm

        Well said. 100%

  2. Pmv Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:50 am

    Amen! I

  3. Drew Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:52 am

    Hallelujah, finally some common sense

    • Will Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 1:56 pm

      Amen to that!!

  4. Derek Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:56 am

    Is it right to call the condition COVID if one simply tests positive for the virus? In that case, it’s not producing any disease. Doesn’t COVID stand for Corina Virus Disease?

    As for ending mitigation? Of course we should! It was one thing for mitigation when the initial thought was this had a 7-10% IFR rate. However, it quickly became clear that the actual IFR was below 1%. I believe the CDC is estimating .6% for the IFR. Now with Omicron, it is likely a lot lower than that. The cases are likely quite a bit higher than what are reported, due to the large number of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic. Many of those are not getting tested.

    Restrictions are now disproportionate to the threat we are facing.

  5. Global Traveler Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:57 am

    The absolute toxic state of discussion on this subject that you are terrified to write what is obvious. It has always been a political virus. Dispense with the health-theatre and end the [please see our new comment policy: https://liveandletsfly.com/live-and-lets-fly-comment-policy-changes/%5D charade. Never, ever forget who did this to you when you vote.

    • FF Reply
      January 7, 2022 at 9:57 am

      Amen!

  6. Will Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:58 am

    One of the problems here isn’t omicron, it’s the next variant. When we let the virus transmit freely, we also increase its rate of mutation. Responsibly relaxing restrictions is still tied to high vaccination rates; otherwise we’re inviting COVID to become deadlier.

    • Will Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 1:57 pm

      I disagree, with myself

  7. A Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:58 am

    Yes, I agree that with omicron it is time to just let people get sick and move on. My spouse and I recently got omicron. We are both vaccinated, boosted, wear a mask, and test regularly. I was shocked. We did everything “right” to avoid it. It wasn’t pleasant and I was pretty sick, but it felt like a bad and long cold, nothing worse.

    My opinion is that unless you live under a rock, everyone is going to get omicron. Get vaccinated so it won’t kill you and let’s all move on.

    FYI – I have been a big supporter of most COVID related policies (vaccine mandates, mask mandates, crowd limits. and proof of vaccination). Other than vaccination — these are working to rescue the the severity of omicron.

    • Will Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 2:11 pm

      They are working so well, we are quickly approaching an average of 500,000 cases a day. There is some cognitive dissonance in your analysis

      • A Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 4:16 pm

        @Will the vaccines are preventing severe COVID cases and reducing hospitalization. The evidence is clear on that issue. My point is that if you are vaccinated, let’s just let COVID play out at this point — it probably won’t kill you.

        If the vaccines aren’t working then explain the delta in hospitalization and death among the unvaccinated? Your point is highly flawed.

  8. Joey Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 10:59 am

    Given how USA has the most number of covid cases in the world, I don’t understand why US requires a covid test result (taken 1 calendar day before departure) for US citizens to return home. Ok if US only had a few cases and wants to keep covid out of the country, then I would have understood that test requirement but that’s not the case right now.

    • JRG Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 11:04 am

      Agree totally. This one requirement is making me cancel an overseas flight – I don’t want to get stuck in another country trying to get back to the US (which has more cases than any other country).

    • A Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      @Joey 100%. It is a flawed policy and is preventing me from traveling internationally. I refuse to get stuck somewhere.

  9. john Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:02 am

    yes – of course it is time to see each other smile, hug and live our lives without fear

    • Will Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 2:02 pm

      Amen to that

  10. Ryan Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:04 am

    I would agree and had similar thoughts when omicron first appeared. Won’t happen. Too many experts have previously spoken strongly against the concept. Too many politicians would fear backlash if it failed.

    But from what I’ve seen, the majority of the public have already decided to pursue herd immunity. Currently I’m in Southern Europe. Many remain maskless regardless of the new mandates. Restaurants, cafes, pubs, shops are full.

    The apathy I see for any new regulations will likely make implementation difficult. Sure, you can close offices, but if everyone just goes to the mall or restaurants instead what has been gained? And if you close everything down again it likely will result in some form of political revolt.

    So politicians will make rules to protect themselves from criticism, but they will go largely unheeded and unenforced.

  11. Gary Leff Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:20 am

    Mitigation policies work less well against Omicron. And provided that Omicron infection provides protection against re-infection, including of other variants, this may all be offer quickly. While it does appear that Omicron in general leads to less severe disease, independent of protection from prior infection and vaccination leading to less severe disease, the sheer number of infections may lead to enough hospitalization that we will want to take preventive steps.

    I’ve long been in favor of ‘opening up as much as possible without overwhelming hospitals’. That’s important – because it’s about making sure that people who need care can get it. We don’t want people dying due to insufficient availability of care.

    We’re seeing a huge wage of infection spiking and likely dropping fast (because as long as people can’t be re-infected quickly the numbers in the population aren’t big enough to support it). And production of Paxlovid is ramping up. But it may be a rough several weeks.

  12. Debit Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:24 am

    I agree but with the caveat that unvaccinated are the last in line for treatment for covid.

    We have allowed people that signed up to take higher risk by not getting vaccinated pass that risk to others by using up all hospital resources and not allowing others get help for other medical needs. This is sham capitalism.

    • Dave Edwards Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 11:38 am

      Do you also feel the same about the uninsured and illegals? Just so I understand your position on who gets medical treatments.

      • Debit Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 11:56 am

        There should be no uninsured in a decent society. I think everyone should get full legal immunity for anything health related. If you cannot afford a medical treatment you should be allowed to steal, Commit armed robbery or even kill to get money for your medical treatment. No reason that a failed society should get a free pass for its failed policies.

        Illegals should be deported but at the same time all whites should be held to account for much they owe in reparations for slavery. Reparations should be in the form of education assistance or low interest loans.

        • Dave Edwards Reply
          January 2, 2022 at 11:59 am

          I’m going to follow the new rules and not make a personal attack. However I do feel the above post should be removed for suggesting someone commit MURDER and it would be justified if they need money for medical reasons.

        • Bob Reply
          January 2, 2022 at 4:10 pm

          “all whites should be held to account for much they owe in reparations for slavery”

          I’m white and my ancestors immigrated here in the 1890’s, 25 years after slavery was outlawed. So how much do I owe? Zero by my calculations.

    • GlobalTraveler Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 11:43 am

      Except what you just wrote is not true, nor has it ever been true, except in maybe 1-2 instances in New York in early 2020. A tired, worn out, democrat talking point trope. If hospitals need help then surge help. Nothing else helps or matters. But your statement is an abject lie.

  13. Stuart Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:30 am

    Even a broken clock is right twice a day. I agree with you that from what we are seeing Omicron is different. And we should not go back to lockdowns, closures, mandates, etc. However, you fail to give credit to the vaccines for the good they have done thus far. There is no doubt they have potentially saved millions of lives from the previous variants that were far more deadly in comparison to Omicron. As well could potentially save more lives as new variants, perhaps much deadlier, prevail in the future. You fail in this because you have, for a year, defended your anti-vax stance and now find a moment to say, “See?” Yes, the unvaccinated will be ok with Omicron for the most part. But at least give credit to the those who got to spend Christmas with their families this year that had it not been for the vaccine might have been otherwise an empty seat at the table.

    Finally, do not underestimate the potential for massive disruptions caused by Omicron despite it being less deadly. You are seeing it already in the airline industry. My daughter’s school is returning to remote learning next week, not because they are concerned for the lives of the students necessarily, but because here in the DMV Omicron has been a tsunami and there are not enough teachers healthy right now to be on campus. So, while we may not have mandates and lockdowns, Covid doesn’t care, it’s going to do it for us in that so many are going to be sick, even if mild, so as to create its own closures.

  14. Jim F. Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:35 am

    The primary thing that concerns me is the numbers game and the frontline health workers who have shouldered a very heavy burden over the past 2 years. Assuming (1) Omicron is far more transmissible but (2) less lethal, a smaller percent for whom it turns out to be lethal of a much larger number puts more physical and emotional stress on a real group of societal heroes. Where are the impromptu concerts, parades, and other expressions of gratitude for our frontline health workers?

  15. Ed Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:50 am

    People need to stop reading about “overflowing hospitals” in propaganda outlets like CNN and check for themselves. There are NO overflowing hospitals. There NO people dying in hallways. There are NO people dropping dead on the street.
    Stop the hysteria already and start using common sense.

    • derek Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 12:02 pm

      Ed is wrong, wrong, wrong. In the news, the major university hospital system, which includes more than one hospital in my city, has canceled all surgery except emergency surgery due to staff shortages and lack of ICU beds. (Some surgery needs a half day of ICU after surgery, open heart surgery needs some ICU after surgery).

      • Will Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 1:54 pm

        Could you be even an iota more specific?

        • derek Reply
          January 2, 2022 at 3:39 pm

          The new policy at Live and Let’s Fly is no links but Google can find some.

          The University of Washington Hospital as well as the UW Medical Center – Northwest is canceling all elective surgery until at least January 14. Elective doesn’t mean optional. It means you’re not going to die right now if you don’t have it. Things like glaucoma surgery (let the eye pressure stay high and slowly blind you), back surgery, uterus falling out of your vagina (prolapse)… all considered elective.

          Another link mentions 106 hospitals in the US doing the same thing. That might mean that 20,000 surgeries being delayed. 20,000 is just a conservative guess (10 days x 20 surgeries x 106 hospitals). That also means that if you were scheduled for January 13, you won’t just wait until January 15, but maybe more than a month or two. How would you like your uterus hanging out of your vagina for 2 more months?

    • Erock Reply
      January 5, 2022 at 2:29 am

      I wish you were right but it is 100% true depending on the area you live. My wife does police and fire dispatch for a densely populated county. Ambulances here are waiting up to 10 hours to get a patient into an ER bed, often they’re just treating people on the stretcher wheeled into the hospital. It’s sad issues like hospital capacity have become political, but they are very real issues.

  16. derek Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 11:58 am

    Really bad judgment from Kyle. It is thought that there will be more hospitalizations with Omicron. Omicron not being serious is just reporters not understanding it.

    Omicron can spread with slight outdoor contact also making it dangerous. Omicron can also evade vaccination many times (unboosted and quite a few boosted).

    Another point is using this logic, drunk driving is ok and should be legal. After all, most of the time, nobody dies. Just weaving on the road, occasionally a mailbox is hit. NO!

    • TR Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 12:30 pm

      https://liveandletsfly.com/airport-measles-threat-is-mostly-paranoia/

      Yea not terribly surprised. Kyle is a bad judgement.

      If we are going back to normal let us let hospitals do all elective procedures and push any non-vaccinated corona treatments to the back of the line and let the chips fall where they may.

    • Derek Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 12:33 pm

      You are placing far too much emphasis on raw case counts.

      We have seen from SA and Britain that cases are nearly meaningless now

      • Will Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 1:55 pm

        Are you talking with yourself?

        • derek Reply
          January 2, 2022 at 3:32 pm

          Whaaaat????!!!! This same thing happened in Star Trek, Let This Be Your Last Battlefield, starring Frank Gorshin (The Joker). Can’t you see we are different?

          That other guy, Derek, has a different name!!!!!

    • Santastico Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 2:48 pm

      There is always a rock or basement. Stop counting cases. Who cares????? Tell me how many people are really dying from Omicron. Live with the virus and stop the theater.

      • jon Reply
        January 6, 2022 at 5:43 pm

        Exactly! The CDC’s Data Tracker updates once a week and has so for many months. Their own stats say that for ALL Americans, regardless of age and any other factor, the DEATH rate is 1.4% if you catch Covid! Stop the fear-mongering and set the people free!

  17. - Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 12:14 pm

    lol New York may have some of the stricter policies in the US, but it’s nowhere among the strictest controls in the world. Many countries in Asia take things much more seriously; heck even Canada and some European countries take things more seriously.

    I do agree that it’s probably impossible to completely control Omicron. Even China, which probably has the strictest controls, is starting to struggle with it. But completely giving up is likely not the right answer either. We have to strike a balance between our controls, their cost, and their benefit. Regular testing, masking, isolation when needed if you’re positive are relatively easy but could go a long way here.

  18. NB_ga Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 12:32 pm

    BINGO! Many of us have been saying this for nearly two years.

    Natural immunity is always the better option – and is engaged through healthy living and being in the environment. Fresh air. Moderate exercise. Good food. Company of loved ones. This is what makes life worth living. Not locking away for months on end, terrified of breathing and companionship.

    People get sick, it is part of being human. In most cases, people get better – over 98.7% do with this virus. Life is terminal. We all need to remember to live it before it is over.

    • Greg Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 2:39 pm

      Are you suggesting that the meaningful percentage of the population who have primary or secondary immunodeficiencies should just get their affairs in order and plan to die?

      If not, what is the alternative if a large minority of the population refuses to be vaccinated or take protections intended to reduce transmission?

      • Santastico Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 2:45 pm

        There is a vaccine. The same part of the population suffers from many other diseases and we don’t stop the world for that.

    • derek Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 3:26 pm

      Natural is NOT always better. Organic oranges sound better than pesticide laden oranges, I agree. But natural means that you die at age 38. That was how long men lived in the Middle Ages. Full of natural. Untreated syphilis, gash to the leg, pneumonia, ear infection.

      Natural Covid instead of vaccination is not better. You risk death. Maybe you get good immunity but a lot of times you get patchy immunity.

  19. Tom Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 12:34 pm

    If something can’t be completely controlled, why bother trying to control it at all? Obviously our decisions should be all or nothing. That makes life easy. 🙂

    • Will Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 1:53 pm

      Think of Omicron like the flu (research showing the Omicold is likely finally less deadly than the flu- certainly Delta was far farrr worse), and current vax like the flu vax (kind of effective sometimes and the gov’t pushes the crap out of it)

  20. Scooter Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 12:47 pm

    Natural immunity tends to wane faster than vaccine protection. We will see higher total hospitalizations and deaths but a much lower % of total cases resulting in hospitalization and death. The vaccines definitely work to mitigate symptoms; as such I think we just have to hold on through January to finally finish this wave.

  21. BWIAD Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 12:58 pm

    Uh it’s a no from me. I do not want to be one of the unlucky ones and end up in the % that is a covid long-hauler or one that brings it around an auto-immune compromised person for my own selfish need to flex my independence. I actually like the fact that masks are wore on planes now and that rule should become permanent. I used to always come down with something after a flight, but now I don’t. American’s need to keep their nasty germs to themselves.

  22. Harry Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 1:17 pm

    Omicrom is the variant we have been waiting for. It isn’t as deadly as previous versions, almost half of people who get it, don’t know they have it.

    The whole point of the Covid policies was to prevent hospitals from getting overrun with Covid patients. That strain is not out there anymore. There is no reason to stick with all of these Covid policies for what looks like– the common cold.

    And even so– the restrictions didn’t even really help to begin with– so why keep them? Are we going to have to shut everything down for every cold and virus that is out there? It’s impossible.

  23. Edward Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 1:20 pm

    I’m ready to move on from Covid as long as hospitals can impose limits on non-vaccinated admissions (nearly impossible). At this point, we have reached the limits of vaccinations. Those who want a booster shot already have it. Those that don’t will never get it no matter what government policies are imposed. Emergency care should not be impeded because a hospital is flooded with non-vaccinated patients.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 6:43 pm

      There’s simply not enough unvaccinated for that to still be true. New York is a good test environment here due to its high vaccination rates, the notion that hospitals are flooded and it’s because of all unvaccinated persons, is not backed by evidence.

  24. Paul Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 1:41 pm

    I appreciate the rational approach to a controversial and invoking reason in your thesis, but the contrary argument, one adopted by health professionals and scientists is different than what you propose. I understand the provocation is intended to inspire discussion, and is reasonably free of typical divisive touchpoints (you couldn’t resist an AOC reference though), I’ll stick with the law of the land, regard some of my fellow citizens as a threat to my health and welfare and that of the people I care about, and tolerate the slow but deliberate process of incorporating the evolving scientific evidence into public health policy.

    • Will Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 1:50 pm

      cool

    • Jackson Waterson Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 2:12 pm

      Paul, you have too much trust and faith in health professionals and scientists. They will always push for more government control over our lives and less freedom for the individual because they are political health professionals and scientists. Sadly, the medical establishment and academia are dominated by one group that smothers differing views/interpretations and outright dismisses facts. Nearly all of the medical and health community is government funded one way or the other. Obviously, the trajectory of the research and opinions will be toward that end: more government,

      It seems those with views similar to you are a threat to freedom, health, and welfare. The foolishness of democracy reveals itself when those similar to you are allowed to vote and dictate our lives. Your law is not our law. Conservatives should be acting to that end.

      • Greg Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 2:49 pm

        Many of us feel just as violently (literally) about the antiscience element of society that seems to have taken over the Republican Party.

        The refusal of antivaxxers to contribute to the public good by being vaccinated or even wearing masks is directly threatening public order and lives. Pretty much every US reader of this blog has had dozens of vaccinations in the course of their lives, but because of a radical and disruptive political force (which lives on both the right and left of American politics, but has rapidly infected much of the Republican Party), they’ve been brainwashed into believing that vaccination is bad.

        I genuinely fear for the breakdown of public order and am preparing my family accordingly. I don’t think it will happen today or next month or even next year, but I fear we will see the worst of Tocqueville’s predictions come true by 2030. We all need to be ready for it.

        • Santastico Reply
          January 2, 2022 at 3:16 pm

          Brainwashing is really bad. I am fully vaccinated against Covid but your comparison with other vaccines is a bad one. Probably nobody that is alive today got multiple vaccines that were created in 6 months and suddenly told to take 2, 3 and God knows how many more. Thus, although I took it, I truly respect those who didn’t. Their choice. You had to bring politics into your answer but you forgot that our VP said she would not take the vaccine if told by the former president. She and her party are harvesting what they planted.

      • Paul Reply
        January 2, 2022 at 5:15 pm

        Just a readback on this… those like me “are allowed to vote”? Are you advocating for disenfranchisement of a selected portion of the electorate? Should you regard our current system of government as the “foolishness of democracy”, I’m confident that you can find a country with a system more to your liking elsewhere. I’m staying put, staying informed, and I’ll continue to exercise the rights earned by those who sacrificed for me to have them.

  25. Will Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 1:51 pm

    Thanks for having the stones to say what is correct, Kyle

    • Rob Reply
      January 6, 2022 at 5:05 pm

      It doesn’t take “stones”, it takes an opinion. A opinion held by many as wrong, that is not nearly as science backed as they like to believe. We have room for debate, just not room for crudeness. It is not “correct”, it is an opinion, and one that I strongly disagree with.

  26. your daddy Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 2:18 pm

    We 100% should deny care to the unvaccinated. They are the ones clogging up the icu’s and make it get hard to get treatment for people who get in a car accident. Also I don’t get all these people with zero symptoms gettingvtesting. That is just stupid. I spend most of my time in Arizona Texas and Florida and guess what their numbers are the sake as all the states like new york and cali that are run by a bunch a liberals who want to have comprte control over your life. Look at the population mitigation numbers people leaving blue cities in droves to the states I just mentioned. Also the child hospital nunnery are pure crap. Every kid that goes into a hospital gets tested and almost all have zero symptoms they just tested positive and are there for something else. Of course the media just likes to scare everyone with the headline numbers.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 6:40 pm

      Could you clarify whether you think COVID care or all care should be denied to the unvaccinated. For example, an unvaccinated person gets hit in a car accident, ambulance arrives on the scene, checks for vax status, unvaccinated injured party is left on the side of the road?
      And a follow up, if you’re suggesting that just COVID care would be denied for an unvaccinated person, does that person have to continue to pay their health care premiums? Some countries recognize natural immunity, do they get care at least as long as they hold the antibodies? What about vaccinated persons for which the antibodies have worn off rendering them effectively unvaccinated, do they get treated the same? If not, is it based on actual risk or just compliance?

    • Your Daddy is imbecilic Reply
      January 6, 2022 at 5:11 pm

      You say you “don’t get it”; that’s the only thing I believe you did get right. The numbers in Texas, Florida are fine. Deny medical care to unvaccinated people when the vaccine causes serious life threatening side effects and was done in a big hurry? What a foolish opinion. You’re entitled to it, but it is beyond unreasonable. Hope your young adult doesn’t go into uncontrollable seizures for weeks, and are still not over, like my close friend’s daughter did, and you have to watch them suffer the result of manipulative people’s pitchfork-mentality opinions like yours.

      Well, Kyle, you got heated, divisive argument if that’s what you were looking to generate, and obviously, you were.

  27. Santastico Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 2:42 pm

    Open it all!! Drop the theater!! There is always a basement or a rock for the unvaccinated and brainwashed to live in or under. Masks on planes is a total joke. You have to wear while watching a movie or sleeping but not when eating or drinking. What a theater!! Just flew international and 300 passengers all maskless eating and drinking for over 45 minutes and that is OK. Airlines, Lord Fauci and Demented Brandon cut a deal with the virus so it cannot transmit during meal time. Stop tests, stop quarantine, stop the brainwashing.

    • Derek Reply
      January 2, 2022 at 8:34 pm

      If Fauci had his way, we would be wearing masks while eating. He is a proponent of the you must wear masks between bites and sips, only briefly sliding the mask down to take a bite or sip

    • Valued Customer Reply
      January 6, 2022 at 5:14 pm

      Well put!

  28. DaninMCI Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 2:44 pm

    It’s a big waste of time. Sooner or later we’ll have to learn to live with this virus. I’ll predict that covid precautions will start disappearing to some degree before the mid-term elections in 2022 and will be gone for most people by Spring 2024.

  29. tim Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 9:35 pm

    This is coming from the same blog that suggested at the start of the pandemic – before there were any vaccines or therapeutics available- intentionally infecting yourself with covid just in order to start flying again

  30. bigbird Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 9:47 pm

    God Bless Kyle. He’s right. Covid is a fraud perpetrated by the socialists and Biden. Nobody has died from Covid. That 800,000 number is a fiction. The 400,000 who contracted it are making it up. Smoking is good for you. Earth is flat. Trump won the last election. Those 140 police officers that got assaulted by terrorists on January 6, 2021 got hurt by tourists who were hungry. All vaccines, especially polio, are ineffective. Lets must move on! Nothing to see here. Cannot wait to hear about Kyle’s next idea. I bet it will be as insightful and science based as this one!!! Yay Kyle. Praise Kyle!!! And all those who agree w/him! This is the best travel blog of them all!!!

  31. bigbird Reply
    January 2, 2022 at 9:50 pm

    ps-the 400,000 who contracted Covid in the US, did it yesterday!!! At least that’s what the socialist communist left wing media would have you believe!!! Nobody died from Covid. Not a soul. God Bless Kyle and science!! Kyle is the best.

  32. docntx Reply
    January 3, 2022 at 7:00 am

    Oh, Kyle… You will be banned from all social platforms for doubting the Gospel.
    The comments are a wonderful illustration of how this is another contrast between those who defend the rules from their infallible authority creating pseudo scientific assertions that are nothing more than speculation, and others who focus on the results.
    For those who still support shutdowns and restrictions, it boils down to: “We might be headed in the wrong direction, but we are making good time!”

    • bigbird Reply
      January 3, 2022 at 12:26 pm

      pretentiously stated!!! Multi-syllable words and everything. Why is it that 9 out of 10 occupied ICU beds are occupied w/those who do not believe in the science and did not get vaccinated? I know, it’s the darned left wing media again. AOC did this! Pity that they just cannot leave our liberties alone so we can get sick and die in peace in a hospital bed that prevents cancer patients from getting treatment. Right on docntx!!

  33. Victor Reply
    January 3, 2022 at 9:24 am

    The new variant(s) will form much quicker when we allow the virus to be transmited freely between human beings and animals. Those new variants will learn to bypass the immunity from the vaccinated and infected. There will be more vaccines and the cycle will never end. With the ongoing mutation, we can foresee a super covid virus that can cause new damages beyond just the flu symptoms to our bodies.

  34. Marissa Reply
    January 3, 2022 at 11:37 am

    After we’re done with the current surge and that might be a lot quicker than we think, we should have a plan to phase out all travel-related restrictions including testing, as well as mandatory vaccination, masking etc. Omicron represents the last phase of the pandemic and is far less lethal than its predecessors plus our susceptibility is lower because of past infections and vaccinations. Yes, I feel for the healthcare workers who will have to deal with the unvaccinated but if we don’t do this, this is going to be another year of frustration and control.

    • bigbird Reply
      January 3, 2022 at 12:28 pm

      “Omicron represents the last phase of the pandemic” Praise God Marissa for you can see the future and it is bright!!

  35. Jm Reply
    January 3, 2022 at 3:34 pm

    I’m currently unvaccinated recovering from omicron or delta or alpha or some other variant. The Binax test I took didn’t specify. It seemed pretty mild, but that could have been because of the Ivermectin… one day bad headache, a couple days of low grade fever and some lingering fatigue. The person I caught it from lost her sense of smell day 5 so I’m expecting that tomorrow as our course of illness has been similar. I’d lift all restrictions and simply recommend frequent handwashing and staying home when feeling sick. Let life go on. Those who need the security blanket of a mask should be allowed to wear one or a few. And United should let their employees return to work. AE4HF

  36. bigbird Reply
    January 3, 2022 at 4:45 pm

    @jm: if you double or triple your dose of ivermectin and add a big dose of rodenticide, you will skip right over the loss of sense of smell! And everyone at AE4HF should follow those same protocols. May God Be with You!!

  37. Terry Kozma Reply
    January 6, 2022 at 5:00 pm

    Very bad suggestion. We need more time to evaluate. By April of May should have a more complete picture

  38. John 2 Reply
    January 6, 2022 at 5:16 pm

    Why do travel bloggers keep writing about medical issues like they know anythng at all about medicine or science or any other related subjects. Stick to travel deals and credit cards and keep quiet about stuff you don’t really know about. In other words, shut up and dribble.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      January 6, 2022 at 5:27 pm

      So then, as the title suggests, it is “unthinkable.” Current methods and practices don’t appear to be working and it’s no longer just a disease for the unvaccinated or this not practicing safety – it’s everybody; doesn’t that warrant a new approach?

  39. Barry Graham Reply
    January 6, 2022 at 6:49 pm

    I wrote something similar as a comment in another blog recently. I agree with you. The time has come.

  40. huey judy Reply
    January 6, 2022 at 7:35 pm

    Absolutely, positively, stop the enforcement of ‘preventative measures’ now. People who are worried about getting sick should stay home. Please let the rest of us get on with our lives. I’m not travelling because I’m claustrophobic and don’t want to have a mask over my face for endless hours on an airplane. And if I take my scheduled trips to UK and France in the coming months, who is to say what draconian measures ‘they’ will put in place while I’m in the air? Why do I want to spend al that money to get jerked around? If something isn’t done, the virus disaster will cause far more mental problems than have already been generated by the virus itself.

  41. KaiserSoze Reply
    January 6, 2022 at 8:57 pm

    Spot On! Well said! Cheers Mate!

  42. David Reply
    January 6, 2022 at 11:57 pm

    How sad. I have enjoyed your travel blog for quite some time. How sad it is now a political agenda and I will no longer enjoy your blog.

    • Kyle Stewart Reply
      January 7, 2022 at 6:18 am

      What’s the political agenda? We’ve done all of the things and it hasn’t worked, do we continue to try to do all of the things that haven’t worked in the past?

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