I think there is a disconnect with people. Their bellies are full, they still have electricity and internet, and they are along for the ride because they have been told for 2 months that staying home and away from other people is the right thing to do.
Few of them are really thinking beyond their immediate circumstance, which is likely some form of “staycation” in the house. I don’t think the public realizes how devastating this has been for our economy, our freedoms, and our national debt.
No, they do not realize the consequences.
Things missed:
1) The study says among people who are enthusiastic attendees of such events pre virus. It is the enthusiastic who will not go. If you didn’t care much about those events pre virus, you’re not part of the measurement.
2) There is rather a lot of talk about “when this is over” and “herd immunity”. There is no law of the universe that says this will ever be over or there will ever be herd immunity.
3) There is a perspective that we have adjusted to natural pathogens before because God doesn’t create things that will devastate us globally. Well, there is growing evidence God didn’t create this virus.
4) The numbers are still growing. It’s May. Remember when flu season ending was going to end the numbers’ growth?
5) When cars arrived in society and highways were built, they killed millions. We didn’t stop driving vehicles because trucks carry food to cities. But we did accept standards. Licensing of people. Seat belt standards on vehicles. All sorts of safety stuff. There is no reason to expect anything different for this new source of death. Standards are going to be imposed. Seatbelts aren’t free, but they are effective and we accepted the expense. We will do the same with the virus.