I'll take Covid in Floriduh for $100...or "Is DeSantis toast?"

[bcredliner]

Whether a virus is alive or not is an ongoing debate among Microbiologists. It's easiest to understand, as laypersons, that they are alive. The key difference in the two points of view is a virus must have a host to replicate, therefore, if it must have a host to replicate it isn't alive.

To be considered alive depends on the definition of life. It may be a moot point if the road to treatment, vaccine and eradication are the same for all viruses, but it is one indication of the challenges of microbiologists and where we are on the learning curve.

A new virus has no history so countermeasures start from scratch. In the meantime the best line of defense, currently and historically, has been the wearing of masks, avoiding crowds and social distancing. Since the current rate of infection is not under control those historical initial measures are still applicable.

By current statistics states dominated by republicans have highest rate of infection which strongly indicates the political bias of following the guidelines and getting vaccinated. In addition, Florida and Texas show high rates of infections and those are two of the states where governors have implemented executive orders stopping businesses and schools from implementing guidelines. Those are real, on the ground facts that are easy to understand and conclude what causes high rates of infection and what we can do to stop the spread.

In short, as laypersons technical data is easy to blow holes in but we don't know enough about the details to draw those conclusions. When we don't know enough about an electrical problem we call an electrician, when we have a plumbing problem beyond our capability we call a plumber. But when we surely don't know enough about COVID19 we make our own decisions and openly disagree with the experts. Where is the logic in that?

A forum is an example of both avenues. I applaud when someone takes the risk to ask for help because they recognize it is time to find an answer from someone that knows more than they do. On the other hand there are those that immediately draw a conclusion and advise what parts to buy when it is only from their personal experience rather than expertise. Do you have the expertise to draw your own conclusions about COVID rather than ask and follow the input of experts that know tons more about what to do to end the COVID health crisis than you do?