then what can be done beyond recommending vaccination for adults and isolation for the vulnerable/fearful while acknowledging that neither is guaranteed to provide protection against infection?
I'm not sure what's gained by promoting a false sense of security through things like mask mandates when we know that masks commonly worn by people who are not fearful of COVID provide insufficient protection or gathering restrictions/curfews that are routinely ignored and not rigorously enforced.
It would also help if public health officials were to be more honest in their presentation of data and recommendations instead of manipulating data and recommendations to fit an agenda. Many people have been led to believe that masks=safe when we know that's not at all true depending on the nature of the masks being used and the setting in which they're used. They've also been led to believe that masks are the single most important intervention for indoor activities when there's research to suggest that adequate ventilation is far more critical.