Many families in America, with the full range of vaccination history (i.e., none-partial- complete), are asking how can we manage family gatherings? One approach is to use a fundamental law of common sense: Before you design the future you must learn from the past and understand the present!

THE PAST

* COVID-19 caught us off-guard.

* We rushed the development of vaccines, boosters, and testing procedures. As of September 10, 2020 there were 247 COVID-19 tests authorized by the FDA under emergency use authorizations. These included 197 molecular tests (including PCR tests), 46 antibody tests, and 4 antigen tests.

* The vaccines needed double doses, and then they needed boosters. Variants of the virus challenged the viability of the vaccines and boosters.

* Fluctuating rules regarding the wearing of masks, social distancing, and testing procedures tested our endurance and understanding.

THE PRESENT

* The Tug-Of-War between vaccines, boosters, and variants continues in 2022.

* Late in August CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky announced a CDC reorganization.

“For 75 years, CDC and public health have been preparing for COVID-19, and in our big moment our performance did not reliably meet expectations”

The following errors were the reasons for the reorganization.

* Poor data management.

* Confusing and overwhelming public guidance.

* Lack of peer review of studies.

* Not up front about all that they did not know.

* Too many decrees without enough explanation.

* Noble lies (i.e., they did not want to worry us).

* Non-medical people involved in decision making.

The above situation has cast a tremendous cloud of  mistrust over what the government has said, and will say; and has changed our understanding of the present situation!

* As of August 31, 2022 the FDA has only approved four Antigen tests for use at home.

* The following statements from the medical community, not the government, are examples of how our understanding of the present has changed.

1. Now the evidence is emerging that the restrictions were based on flimsy science or sheer guesswork.

2. “MIT researchers showed that the CDC’s 6-foot social distancing rule has no basis in science. If you are indoors, your risk is the same whether an infected person is 3-feet away from you, 6-feet away from you, or even 60-feet away. The key factors are whether you are wearing a mask and how much time you spend in the space.”

3. Rapid in-home testing.

a) With symptoms, rapid tests are reported to be 90% or more  sensitive.

b) “Without symptoms we do not know how accurate the test is. A negative result does not mean you are free of COVID-19. It might mean that you tested too early or too late. People without symptoms should not use one rapid test alone to clear themselves of being infectious”.

c) Ask experts what to do next and you will get numerous combinations of: repeat testing after 48 hours, PCR testing, isolation, what is the situation?; as your answer!

d) Antigen and PCR tests are both subject to false positives and false negatives due to the quality of the test sample.

THE FUTURE

* The key issue is Air Purification!

* If you do not feel well, do not attend.

* If you attend, wear a N95 mask indoors and outdoors.

* Social distancing is no longer an issue!

* Rapid testing, PCR testing, and vaccination will be at the participant’s discretion.

* Be aware of the constant COVID Tug-Of-War!

cdc