I usually look down on the ground before exiting my car because that first step can be a doozy. And if I’m driving that means it’s somewhere in public, where I’m almost guaranteed to find a few masks that have been dropped or discarded purposely. It’s a poignant reminder that COVID-19 is now a part of our lives.
I don’t enjoy wearing a mask at all, let alone at least 8.5 hours of my work day. Then to continue its use while I’m out and about with the world at large. I yearn for the day when I’m no longer required to wear it.
I realize that day is not today, next year or anytime soon. I just hope it’s one day before I die.
Like any living thing on Earth, COVID-19 will fight for its right to party. Did you know that in the 2 years we’ve been coping with it, there have been 10 documented or at least recognized, variants?
- Alpha
- Beta
- Gamma
- Delta
- Epsilon
- Mu
- Omicron (most prevailing type currently)
- R.1
- Theta
- Zeta
Humans and the viruses that live in them have survived by adaptation. We can quickly adapt to changing environmental conditions. Since we’re trying to kill the COVID-19, it’s adapting to survive. I’m paraphrasing an article I read but …
The RNA-synthesizing machinery that most RNA viruses use to copy their genome doesn’t have this error correction mechanism. But coronaviruses have a special enzyme that allows them to do error correction, so they have a lower mutation rate than other RNA viruses. I don’t think it works quite as well as the DNA mechanism, though.
There’s this idea that because most RNA viruses cannot error correct, they make lots and lots of mistakes. That’s not great for us, because it allows them to mutate rapidly and avoid the immune system. But if they make too many mistakes, it’s not good for the virus either, because the viruses will just break down.
Marta Gaglia, an associate professor of molecular biology and microbiology at the School of Medicine
You can read the entire article here.
To the best of my knowledge, I have not contracted COVID-19. If I did, I was asymptomatic and totally unaware. As I understand the information given to me, that receiving the vaccination shot and booster will help lower my chances of “getting it”, or if I do get it, the vaccine will help reduce the length of time of having it before I pass it.
I mentioned this before but worth repeating … COVID-19 will not be gone in my lifetime. My mindset is not when we will be ‘over this’ but how can I adapt to this new layer of disease complexity.
‘los; out
los, Fil-Am Renaissance Man 