Link: Research into Covid origins

[sonia]

We have the best view yet of Covid-19’s origins. What should we do about it? by Umair Irfan.

The latest research points to a spillover from animals at the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in Wuhan. The world could take steps to prevent this from happening again.

Posting this mostly so that I can find it again if needed. It seems like folks aren't posting Covid news as much.

Although I did like dewline's announcement: "I'm not done with masking in public any time soon. Triple-vaccinated or not, I've still got too much to lose." I hadn't thought to announce it, but I intend to continue masking also, for my own sake and everyone else's.

Comments

[batdina]

I will continue to use a mask also. Then again, I was wearing one Before COVID, so I'm not sure my declaration counts for very much.

In other news: still very much looking forward to meeting you in person some time this summer!

[sonia]

Yeah, masking has its benefits for chemical sensitivity, although I find the N95s are chemical-y themselves.

Yes, me too! Still working on short-term housing when I get there, but plans are moving forward overall.

[batdina]

I hate N95s! I use them, but they make me queasy. I'm looking forward to going back to a carbon filter mask when it seems reasonable to do so.

I wish you luck finding housing. The Bay Area is a difficult place these days for that. (Did the job come through?)

[sonia]

Yes, I start the job, working remotely, on April 11.

Thanks for the good wishes! I think partly I'm starting too early for finding a May rental, but I will feel so much better when that's settled.

[silveradept]

I suspect we're not getting as much these days because it seems like most of the people with political and journalistic power have decided it's endemic and no longer something that needs to lead every news story. The origins story, if it bears out, probably means something for trying to enforce stricter and more humane standards for markets and their goods.

(I'm not stopping masking, even though our mask mandate has expired. I have people at home for whom getting an infection would be way worse, even though we're all vaccinated.)

[sonia]

I like the article's point that the future is more important than the past, so we need to take precautions on both possible routes no matter what happened before.

I'm so relieved I'm stopping my public-facing job before I have to argue with everyone about why they still have to wear masks to cross my threshold when they're not masking anywhere else. I imagine your job might get more stressful that way.

[silveradept]

Agreed. Precautions are the things that prevent pandemics.

We're getting plenty of people who are choosing to not mask, but so far there's only been snarky remarks about why some staff would continue to mask after the removal of the mandate. I can only hope it stays at that level.

[sonia]

I hope it stays at that level too. Or better. Snarky remarks are totally out of line, and it's depressing that it's the best you can expect.