texture.

First- let's remember why we decided to shut certain facets of our economy down in the first place and encourage people to stay home. It was to avoid an undue crunch on our healthcare system. We know a lot more now than we did then. We're better able to treat the virus (even among the infirm) and I believe hospitalization and death rates are down - we seem to have come through the post-holiday crush. Let's remember why we're doing what we're doing. Not to shut down for the sake of shutting down or preventing every last death.

I haven't looked at the data in a while- I'm most interested in the activity that drives community transmission. It seems that schools, if managed correctly, pose minimal risk. Schools should be open. IIRC, it seems that bars, restaurants and clubs (and other indoor social gathering spots) contribute disproportionately. We should take steps to minimize. In so doing, we should focus our relief efforts on protecting paychecks and minimizing closures and bankruptcies - probably not sending out $2k checks to every Tom, Dick and Harry in the country.

Let's also not forget that large businesses and people will dictate the pace of the economic rebound - not the government. So you will undoubtedly see photos of those same smirking jerks crowded into a bar the moment they're allowed... but if business aren't bringing people back to offices, people are traveling, going to movies, events, etc. - the larger economy will continue to suffer. The government's focus should be on getting vaccines out as quickly as possible and instilling confidence. Period.

What you're seeing here is all for show, all to score points. A lifting of restrictions will absolutely help some businesses in the short-term, but won't drive long-term outcomes. I'm also guessing we won't see a huge spike in incremental infections (see passage above). that said, somebody has to go first.

Random thought. I never had any idea just how fixated Americans are on fucking restaurants. Every conversation about COVID seems to go there. wtf? For the record, I haven't sat down to a meal out in almost a year, but I've spent a good bit of $$$ on prepared food from my local establishments.