Sunday May 17,2021
Two months ago the White House harshly criticized Governor Gregg Abbott for lifting restrictions and opening businesses. Texas has reported almost 3 million COVID-19 cases and 49,861 deaths to date. Texas COVID-19 related deaths account for 10% of all COVID related deaths in the United States. Today Texas was able to report ZERO COVID-19 related deaths marking the first time that’s happened since data was tracked in March of 2020. Abbot remarked that the state was reporting the fewest COVID-19 cases in more than 13 months, the lowest positivity rate ever and the lowest COVID-19 hospitalizations in 11 months. Ector County who has reported 17,328 total cases and logged 373 deaths reported no new cases today and only 13 in the past 7 days.
The CDC reported that more than 45% of American adults are now fully vaccinated. Texas reported 32.6% of its population is fully vaccinated although more than 500,000 Texans are past due for their second shot. Health experts say fears of side effects, an inability to take time off of work or incorrectly thinking that a single dose is enough all might be contributing factors to why some are skipping their second dose.
A recent report by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention found that Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are 64% effective at preventing hospitalizations in the elderly after the first dose. But they are 94% effective after two doses. Everything is showing that you need two doses to get good protection against the virus. The second vaccine dose is essential in preventing the creation and spread of new COVID-19 variants- a mutation of the original virus, which can be more contagious than the original strain. The first dose of the vaccine may protect you from the original virus but there are variants out there. Because your immune response isn’t as strong without the second dose, variants can replicate and spread. The second dose lowers the odd’s of that happening.
If you missed your second dose you shouldn’t stress about having to start all over again. While getting the second dose should happen within two to six weeks after the first one- and not any sooner than that- it’s always better to get it late than never. If someone has missed their appointment for their second dose, they can contact their vaccine distributor and reschedule their appointment.
The increased Covid-19 vaccinations have helped boost reopening efforts , and the return to a pre-pandemic normal is gaining speed. It has been reported that fully vaccinated people can stop wearing face masks and social distancing in most settings.
Many are looking forward to attending sports events, concerts and dining inside restaurants again but for others, returning to normalcy provokes an uneasiness about what the new norm will look like. According to a survey by the American Psychological Association, about half of adults are uncomfortable about returning to in-person interactions after the pandemic. Their concerns range from getting COVID-19 to communicating with people again.
COVID restrictions have had unforeseen consequences. Some people will feel paralyzing anxiety about resuming their normal activities after being in a fear mode for more than a year. Many have grown quite comfortable being alone.
When COVID-19 swept across the nation we all went in to hermit mode. We cocooned ourselves off from the rest of the world. We quit spending time with friends, going to school, work, church, and gatherings. We learned how to conduct our lives online without leaving the house. Physical distancing might have been a good idea but let me tell you what was not a good idea. Social distancing was never a good idea. We are now seeing the effects of social distancing which is a mental crisis. Three times more people have reported suffering from anxiety than before COVID-19 restrictions. There have been four times as many suffering from depression, suicides among young people have almost tripled, one in four people ages 18-24 contemplated suicide last year and divorce rates are up 34%. People are missing connectivity.
It is not good for us to be alone. There is a reason solitary confinement is considered the most severe punishment in prison, aloneness crushes the soul. The United Nations considers solitary confinement exceeding 15 days to be torture. We were designed by our maker as social beings intended to engage in relationships. We need each other.
If we have learned anything from this past year it might be that we were way too busy. All of a sudden the entire planet shut down. We had nowhere to go and nothing to do. We found ourselves spending valuable time with our families that wasn’t in the car between activities. We were eating dinner at the table, playing board games and going for walks outside. We realized that maybe Lizzy didn’t need to be in basketball, volleyball, track and band. While we want our kids to be involved, more is not always better. For the first time in a long time families had the time to see and really hear one another. As we open back up make sure your schedule reflects your priorities. Every time you say yes to something you are saying no to something else. You only have so many yeses. Don’t go back to the busy, chaotic life that was not working so well before.
Hebrews 9:27
Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgement.