As the Coronavirus Surges, a New Culprit Emerges: Pandemic Fatigue.

New York Times ^ | October 17, 2020 | Julie Bosman, Sarah Mervosh and Marc Santora

[karpov]

CHICAGO — When the coronavirus began sweeping around the globe this spring, people from Seattle to Rome to London canceled weddings and vacations, cut off visits with grandparents and hunkered down in their homes for what they thought would be a brief but essential period of isolation.

But summer did not extinguish the virus. And with fall has come another dangerous, uncontrolled surge of infections that in parts of the world is the worst of the pandemic so far.

The United States surpassed eight million known cases this past week, and reported more than 70,000 new infections on Friday, the most in a single day since July. Eighteen states added more new coronavirus infections during the seven-day stretch ending on Friday than in any other week of the pandemic.

In Europe, cases are rising and hospitalizations are up. Britain is imposing new restrictions, and France has placed cities on “maximum alert,” ordering many to close all bars, gyms and sports centers. Germany and Italy set records for the most new daily cases. And leaders in the Czech Republic described their health care system as “in danger of collapsing,” as hospitals are overwhelmed and more deaths are occurring than at any time in the pandemic.

The virus has taken different paths through these countries as leaders have tried to tamp down the spread with a range of restrictions. Shared, though, is a public weariness and a growing tendency to risk the dangers of the coronavirus, out of desire or necessity: With no end in sight, many people are flocking to bars, family parties, bowling alleys and sporting events much as they did before the virus hit, and others must return to school or work as communities seek to resuscitate economies.

[dp0622]

I knew farmer Dean from Free republic and we talked on the phone for a few years.

your relationship sounds much much deeper and again I am sorry.

All of the good times you had with him still matter.

And if I was in a hospital God forbid very sick and I couldn’t see my friends I would already know how they felt about me and it would bring me peace.

You sound like a stand-up guy. I will pray for you and your friend

[rlmorel]

Thanks. I know many people on FR, and I have been fortunate to meet dozens of them in person over the years...and I have never been disappointed.

Maybe our paths with cross someday, dp0622...

Until then, I am grateful for your words of condolence. It DOES mean something from a Freeper, something I am sure Farmer Dean understood well.

[newzjunkey]

When this began we were hyper vigilant at work and when back at home. It was mentally exhausting. The literature has seen the same issue in healthcare and with HIV as prevention fatigue.