Why Individuals and Business Leaders Still Need To Consider COVID-19 risks
This is a three-minute read on why individuals and business leaders should be more careful about #COVID19. People should put their mask back on and weigh the benefits versus risks of crowds. And business leaders must consider the costs and risks of ignoring the acute and long-term dangers of COVID to workers, customers, and conference attendees. (The data here is US-centric, but it isn't much different in many developed nations.)
? ?????? ?????? ????????????-?????????????? ???????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ????% ???? ???? ????????????????????. They were just 15% of US cases a month ago, are now predominant, and are still growing (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions).
? ?????? ???? ???? ???????????????? ?????? ???????? ?????????????? ??????????. COVID in wastewater is rising (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#wastewater-surveillance) and the positive rate is beginning to rise (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklycases_7daytestingpositive_00).
? ???????? ???? ?????? ???? ???? ???? ???????? ???? ?????????????????????? ?????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????? (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view?list_select_state=all_states&list_select_county=all_counties&data-type=Risk).
? The primary risk is NO LONGER acute illness or death. ?????? ???????????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ???????? ?????????????????? ?????? ?????????????? ???? ???????? ???????????????? ???????????????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ??????????. “Reinfection with COVID-19 increases the risk of both acute outcomes and long COVID (and) this was evident in unvaccinated, vaccinated and boosted people.” https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/repeat-covid-is-riskier-than-first-infection-study-finds-2022-11-10/
? Stop thinking about COVID only being about COVID. ?????????? ???????????????? ???????? ???????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?? ???????? ???? ?????????? ???????????? ????????????. That recent study found that those with repeat infections had a 3x increased risk of heart problems, 3x increased risk of blood clotting, and had increased risks of diabetes, kidney problems, mental health disorders, musculoskeletal problems, neurologic disorders and lung problems. COVID damages your body's immune systems--and that is something no one should take lightly.
? ??????????????????? ?????????????????? ?????? ???????????? ????????????????, canceling procedures, and setting up tents to deal with overflow. Also, COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising in kids under the age of six (https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-11-09/covid-hospitalizations-rising-in-kids-under-6-months-cdc-director-walensky-says?sref=lbQAzuXj). May I remind you that when adult hospitals sagged, we canceled school and children's activities? Now that children's hospitals are struggling (due to COVID, RSV and flu), are we really going to ignore that and prioritize maskless flights, conferences, and concerts?
? ?????????? ????????, ?????? ???????? ???????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????? ???????? ???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????????? ???????????????????? ???????? ?????? ?????????????? ?????????? ???? ?????????????? ?????? ?????????????????????????????? (such as flu, RSV, etc.) You need to get over your aversion to masks and, during periods of high transmission and elevated risk, start protecting yourself and others. (https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2211029)
It usually takes between 10 and 15 years for an HPV infection to cause cervical cancer. The time it takes to go from HIV infection to AIDS is around five to 10 years. We simply do not know what repeat COVID infections will do to your body in five, ten, or fifteen years' time. (Remember, 40 to 50% of COVID infections are asymptomatic, so whatever number of infections you ???????? you've had, double it.)
Every event and every indoor crowd raises your risks. I'm not saying you need to stay home, but please weigh carefully the benefits and risks for every flight, gathering, conference, pub visit or party in the coming months. And if you plan events for attendees or manage employees, recognize the policies you set can impact their lives forever (as well as raise your costs due to absences and disability).
As a personal aside, here is how I mitigate risks right now as infections in Ireland are moderate but beginning to rise: I simply refuse to attend a mask-optional event--no concerts, conferences, or parties. I will travel through airports where masks are optional, but I wear a high-quality mask and do what I can to avoid crowded areas. (I will find an empty gate to sit at rather than crowding into the gate where my flight is boarding, and I will try to board last, since air quality is poor during boarding and deplaning.) I am wearing my mask indoors in most settings such as at the store. And while I may dine indoors, I go during off hours, avoid crowded restaurants, and expect to stop doing so in the coming weeks as infection rates grow. (I have been in a room with more than ten other people once in the past three weeks.) Is that fun? No. Do I get strange looks from maskless people? Who cares? Recognizing the long-term risks of COVID makes it easy for me to make relatively small changes.
There is no reason to think repeat infections are benign, and every reason to think we are encouraging a generational reduction in lifespans and quality of life. “Everyone else is doing it” was a bad excuse for smoking and drunk driving. It's no different for maskless events during an evolving and still dangerous pandemic. Please take care personally, and if you lead others and plan events, do not forget you are responsible for their health and safety, not just their productivity and experiences.