> The initial policy interventions were heavy-handed in a time of chaos and relative ignorance
While I don't think we should go back to 2020 practices, I do think that what happened was less heavy-handed than we all remember. The US at least never had a real lockdown. You were always allowed to leave your house. The only places that got shut down by the government were bars, restaurants and schools. All other closures and people stopping to go out and socialize was pro-active behavior by citizens. Sure, some places required you to wear a mask, but IMO this was much less inconvenient for most people than the politically motivated outcry would make you think.
I am 100% with you that we should invest in ventilation and IMO far-range UV-C light in public spaces. COVID or not, respiratory diseases suck and cost massive amounts of money each year. If we can reduce them and improve air indoors it's a huge win that we should take.
Do we actually want this, truely? If the species goes long enough in such sterile environs, free from voracious infection and without the constant assault upon the immune system, wouldn't the ultimate end result be far more disastrous? If removed from our protective civilization bubble or should a disease come along that can penetrate it, couldn't this be far more devastating to a population? Isn't a constant assault from the maximum amount of weakened and lesser disease of paramount importance to a robust and healthy immune response?
I don't think we'd accomplish a truly sterile environment. Even the places with good ventilation and far-UVC light won't be truly sterile. If someone coughs right at you, you are sor gonna get exposed. There will also still be plenty of places where we won't do these things. Most people won't have this in private homes for example. I think it would bring urban areas maybe somewhat closer in exposure levels to what you have in more rural areas.
> The only places that got shut down by the government were bars, restaurants and schools.
At least one SoCal city filled a skate park with sand.
There's a video of harbor cops going after a guy paddle-boarding in the ocean. (There was no one within 50 yards until the water cop on the jet-ski showed up.)
There were also churches where arrests happened.
California closed hair salons/barbers, but personal stylists were okay if you were connected. Then again, neither did the restaurant closing. (See Newsom, French Laundry.)
While I don't think we should go back to 2020 practices, I do think that what happened was less heavy-handed than we all remember. The US at least never had a real lockdown. You were always allowed to leave your house. The only places that got shut down by the government were bars, restaurants and schools. All other closures and people stopping to go out and socialize was pro-active behavior by citizens. Sure, some places required you to wear a mask, but IMO this was much less inconvenient for most people than the politically motivated outcry would make you think.
I am 100% with you that we should invest in ventilation and IMO far-range UV-C light in public spaces. COVID or not, respiratory diseases suck and cost massive amounts of money each year. If we can reduce them and improve air indoors it's a huge win that we should take.