My covid-related beliefs and questions
Things I’m fairly confident in:
I should take colds in general more seriously than I did pre-pandemic: Staying at home with cold symptoms is good. General masking during cold season is good. We should have air filters in all public indoor spaces.
Long covid is real and we should keep getting covid shots and avoid infections.
Things I’m confused about (and would appreciate input on):
Will covid become just another cold like the other coronaviruses? If so, does this include declining long covid risk?
At this point, is the health&well-being impact of long covid risk or of sustained self-isolation bigger?
How does long covid risk compare to risk of long-term problems from [other cold]? I.e., how much of the concern is spotlight effect?
I think your questions are good ones, but very difficult to answer, especially in light of rampant denialism. The second question stands out to me, because (1) that will vary individually and (2) it depends on the facts. If covid is causing cumulative cognitive decline, I can see that resulting in a loop of increased infections due to brain damage and increased risk tolerance, which further damages the brain, resulting in higher risk of more infections. In such a case, I’m doubtful that self-isolation is a bigger problem, even though isolation has its own problems.
Makes sense! My current emerging policy is to keep going out, but to avoid being in closed rooms for less than high ev interactions. Plus prioritizing applying to remote over in-person jobs.
Given the large leaps with which AGI and various other existential risks come closer, being extremely covid cautious seems not indicated though. Gotta see the world while it still stands.
Thanks for the reply, I’ve been thinking on it. I’m curious—is there any evidence that might change your mind in the future? Or do the risks dominate?