Social dance is back. Facebook events page is getting repopulated. I started traveling to dance to neighboring cities (Tulsa, Dallas), just like pre-covid times.
Before the vaccine, covid was a new, potentially fatal disease. Our bodies did not seem to know how to handle the new virus well. How your particular body would respond to the infection was somewhat unpredictable, although there were some risk factors identified (age, pre-existing conditions). You could get by with no or little symptoms, or you could die of the infection. Even if you did not die of it, you could suffer from long-lasting after effects. The risk was great enough to warrant caution.
Then there came the vaccine, becoming available starting early 2021 in the US. The mRNA vaccines turned out to be highly effective ones. The vaccine would be counted as a triumph in medical science in the future.
My current take is that, once the vaccines teach the face of the new virus and train your immune system, covid becomes a "cold". You can still catch it, transmit it, or get sick with it (called a breakthrough infection). But you are unlikely to die, just like what we anticipate from a cold. This makes a huge difference.
For the unvaccinated, odds are actually getting worse, due to highly transmissible and potentially more damaging delta variant. In fact, a majority (>80%) of newly hospitalized covid patients are unvaccinated, consistent with this view.
Now, we are seeing a surge of patients of delta variant. In my university hospital, there has been an increase in covid patients. Department chair was talking about dusting off the surge plan. Sure, I may catch it and get sick. But probably, I'll be okay, as one of the "vaccinated".
So this is my take on covid as of August 2021; "I hear a bad cold (for the vaccinated) spreading in the community. For the unvaccinated, the disease can kill them. I better be careful, with hand wash and mask when applicable. Sleep well and stay healthy. Try not to catch it nor give it. But I may not have to be overly cautious and I can 'live' a little."
Note this is not an opinion as a public health official like Dr. Fauci, who needs to provide best possible guidance and options to protect the public from diseases, or as a politician who needs economy going, even at an expense of disease spreading and some peoples' lives. Just my current, personal and honest opinion.
With that view, I went to all-vax WCS party in Tulsa on 7/24, and Argentine Tango milonga on Sat and Sun, 8/7-8/8.
The last visit for Dallas and attending a "proper" milonga was about 17 months ago, March 2020. Afterwards they closed down public parties. They restarted open milonga last month.
I saw and danced with old and new people.
It seems, the break did not dull my ability to dance, fortunately. Actually, I felt that I was even better at social dancing than before the break. ... well, that might be overestimating myself. I'd certainly need to check the way I am moving. Also, remembering moves and diagnostics of partners' skills for social dance would be helpful. But I am having as much fun for sure. Lucky me.
PS
I delayed to write this entry by a few days, to make sure I am healthy after those parties. Getting sick after this kind of entry would be uncool.
