Yes, you're correct. The Delta variant is not as virulent/powerful but it is more contagious/easily spread. The scary variant, which apparently has been contained, is the South African variant, which had ravaged Brazil.

Gracie....you are such a card! :)

There IS a simple PROOF about the difference in danger and risk of going UNvaccinated versus vaccinated. In the south-central US (aka land of the UNvaccinated), 99% of those people on ventilators and struggling to BREATHE are the UNvaccinated. Most of those near DEATH would like to be able to go back and take the vaccine - the nurses have quoted, "I am very sorry, but it is too late"! Reference Dr. Hoteze of Baylor U. and Dr. Vin Gupta and many other medical experts that have been interviewed about this subject for, at least, the last 2 weeks!

I don't understand the reluctance to accept Science and information that saves lives, both mine and yours. One Washington insider from the south-central US recently went so far as to laugh about Science in general. That could never have happened in the 1960s when Americans were PROUD that the US had caught up with the Russians in rocket and satellite launching. No one LAUGHED at Science then. Are there burkas in the future for all US women - back to the dark ages? What happened to America? Recently, America lost a Pentagon "war games" exercise to both Russia and China. When will the downside stop?

Yes, but what bothers me is not necessarily dying. Once you’re gone, you’re gone. It is the long Covid which can occur after mild illness too. Quality of life. That is what scares me.

Simple solution......everyone eligible for vaccination should get themselves vaccinated. I would bet real money that if that were to be accomplished in this country, we would not be looking down the nose at lockdowns or masking for the masses. I blame the anti-vaxxers, hesitant- vaxxers and those fake religious exemptions vaxxers for this mess.

OBB has a way with words and can give it to the best of 'em. I LOVE her delivery, candor and most of her her exquisite sarcasm.

WOW......such an upbeat sentiment from you. Thank you.

Speaking of the Covid long haul side effects..........anyone know if fully vaccinated people who get infected then recover suffer long haul effects?

Tell me that you are not going to allow fear to rule your life this far into your tenure? There are too many "what if's" in this lifetime to bother wasting time on things that haven't happened yet. Do your best to prepare and leave the rest of the worrying up to GOD. Just my opinion.

Good question! And interesting, compared to all the hysteria we get on here every time some new information is presented. I wonder if maybe the "long haul effects" might be more serious in conjunction with how serious the infection suffered. Perhaps, the "effects" might be lighter or even non-existent in those that have been vaccinated and infected? Just my speculation. We seem to have a few "experts" on here that I am sure will enlighten us with their experience related to contagious diseases.

Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin

That's a good reminder to all of those that wish our gov to mandate everything FOR us.

A lot of viruses "come back" like chicken pox/shingles. Many virus strains sequester in your body for many years and screw up your immune system like Guillan-Barre and Epstein-Barr syndromes, fibromyalgia, Lyme Disease (which they should hurry up and find a cure/prevention for because it has destroyed so many lives of people I know).

A century ago, balancing the tension between individual liberties and public safety, the Supreme Court upheld the ability of state and local governments to enforce mandatory vaccination laws. “In every well-ordered society charged with the duty of conserving the safety of its members,” wrote Justice John Marshall Harlan, “the rights of the individual … may at times, under the pressure of great dangers, be subjected to such restraint, to be enforced by reasonable regulations, as the safety of the general public may demand.”

I agree, but I would like to add. US citizens will do ANY job today - IF they are paid enough. Science is on the verge of having A.I. AND ROBOTICS that can do ANY dangerous or difficult job. ALL these legal AND illegal worker-type immigrants will be UNNEEDED and unemployed in 40 years. That will cause social problems then. Why is the US so BAD at long-term planning?