John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center

Confirmed US COVID Infections: 49,018,649
Confirmed US COVID Deaths: 787,898

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In other COVID News
“Parson lashes out after news report reveals his office buried a study showing mask mandates work.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson commissioned data on masks but didn't release it after it showed they were effective".

"Parson, a Republican, has fiercely opposed both mask mandates and vaccination mandates as tools to curb the spread of COVID-19. The report data showed masks were effective, particularly during the spread of the Delta variant of the coronavirus. Scientists from the UK, Australia, and China, recently also analyzed more than 70 published studies from across the world and found that, besides vaccination, mask wearing seemed to be the most effective public health measure for combating the coronavirus.

“In response to the report about masks being effective during the pandemic, Parson posted a statement to Facebook on Thursday calling the author of the report a 'political blogger.' Parson said, "There is no definite evidence that proves mandates saved lives and prevented COVID-19 infections in Missouri's biggest cities," Parson doubled-down on his opposition to mask mandates." The Business Insider

So goes Missouri during a deadly pandemic. Some in the state will actually react in a hostile manner (sometimes physically aggressive) when they see someone else wearing a protective mask out in public. Anti-mask sentiment seems to now be generally ingrained in the state as a whole.

Although the cities of Kansas City and St Louis currently have a mask mandate for certain indoors situations, we live in a county with no mask mandates at all. Seeing someone else with a mask when out & about is a rarity. However, we always wear a KN95 when out in public. We also now no longer go out very often. Between a high percentage of unvaccinated public and a strong hostility toward mask wearers where we live, it is best not to co-mingle (unless absolutely necessary) with those who are of anti-vaccine/anti-mask sentiment. Most of our outings these days are either solo or curbside situations. Some in our “social bubble” have gotten (and passed on) COVID. Therefore, it now seems wise to temporarily downsize the bubble to only immediate family. Maybe things will change for the better by Spring. One can only hope.

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The current 49 Million Confirmed Cases of COVID in the USA comes WITHOUT the assumed, much more contagious, Omicron variant yet being a significant influence. If Omicron does proves to be Worse than Delta (as suspected), then, we’re all in big trouble. Yet (even with COVID rates on the rise and so many people dying of the disease) a large majority in our local communities have declared the COVID pandemic “over.” Most people here just go about their everyday lives like the pandemic doesn’t exist. Meanwhile, health officials continue to warn that people may be “done with” COVID but COVID is not done with them.

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The future with Omicron

COVID-19 vaccine developers are aiming to create a vaccine specifically for the omicron variant.
• Moderna President Stephen Hoge said Wednesday that the Moderna omicron vaccine booster shot will likely be released close to March 2022.
• Pfizer said it will have an omicron-centered vaccine within 100 days.

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So – no matter what others do locally - we may be semi hibernating this Winter. We will be patiently waiting to see if we’ll need still another booster shot in the Spring. Those times that we do go out this Winter, we will also continue to wear a mask & do our best to social distance from strangers. Meanwhile, there is some fear that once there is a vaccination to protect against Omicron, a new (maybe more contagious and more deadly) variant will only replace the Omicron variant. Meanwhile, Delta is still ravaging the World. This pandemic has now been going on for two full years. Will it ever end?