Post Al4awX0IsJMsglbNdg by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
 (DIR) More posts by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
 (DIR) Post #Al4awOHhIGvxe6fe08 by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:14:08Z
       
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       A Sunday morning article on COVID in New Zealandhttps://www.rnz.co.nz/news/covid-19/525469/covid-19-will-be-with-us-forever-flu-expertReading it the key messages seem to be:* Only those who are vulnerable really feel the effects of it.* No mention of long COVID and the health complications we know can come from infection.* It’s just sniffles we have to get used toIt’s minimising, and an ableist + eugenicist take on it all.
       
 (DIR) Post #Al4awPBhw1jkRosNIu by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:17:49Z
       
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       The reality:* COVID impairs cognitive function, and this can happen even in “mild” cases in otherwise healthy people* COVID causes organ damage, and this can also happen with “mild” infection* Its damage is cumulative. The more infections you have, the more likely it is that you may become permanently disabled by it* It is not seasonal, and summer waves aren’t just something to get used to
       
 (DIR) Post #Al4awPrtPBTsYec43c by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:19:45Z
       
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       * You can get reinfected within weeks of a previous infection. Immunity isn’t guaranteed by infection or vaccine.This is because it is a virus that really damages your immune system. It is constantly mutating, due to being highly contagious and people not taking mitigation measures seriously.
       
 (DIR) Post #Al4awQVF2sxMWh1UOG by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:24:15Z
       
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       “We’ve got to live with it”Exactly. This doesn’t mean throwing other people under the bus, and waiting until you’re in their position to give a stuff.
       
 (DIR) Post #Al4awR6onB0wPEbUxc by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:29:27Z
       
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       “It will be with us forever” is the headline of this article.And I mean yup, it will be thanks to a combination of:* Late stage capitalism* racism* ableism* social pressure and inertia* People individually opting out of social responsibility On that last point. If you can mitigate, but choose not to because of “the vibes”, you’re not pulling your weight.
       
 (DIR) Post #Al4awRsJwZ0mmYpR0C by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:34:22Z
       
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       For a lot of people (not everyone I know), it can come down to:“Masks weird me out, and taking precautions is hard because of peer pressure.”vs“I am now living with permanent disability.”
       
 (DIR) Post #Al4awX0IsJMsglbNdg by dave@social.lightbeamapps.com
       2024-08-17T22:48:42Z
       
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       And just to add. It’s ok to start resuming mitigations if you’ve been slack/ignoring things for a while.There’s a weird wrinkle in human behaviour where people think it’s all or nothing, it’s really not.You could do a job where masking is impossible, and still mask up at the supermarket.You could switch to outdoor meetups when the weather is good.There’s a whole suite of minor inconveniences that could help you and others around you.