Here we go again

[cellio]

I was wondering when that would happen. My synagogue just sent email saying services this week are virtual only, and the committee in charge of reopening will meet on Sunday to decide what happens next.

Given the current wild spread of the omicron variant of Covid-19, I'm not surprised. Since we were already doing hybrid services, I'm a little disappointed that the in-person option is now unavailable for those who feel safe doing so. (Our requirement was always "fully vaccinated + mask at all times".) On the other hand:

It's been obvious all fall that it was getting worse, but the last week or so took rather an extreme turn.

(Graph is from Johns Hopkins.)

Comments

[goljerp]

My shul has (at the moment) switched to: hybrid, with max 50 distanced people in person (in a space which can legally hold > 1000 including the balcony. All people in person must be masked, pre-registered, and at pre-registration provide proof of 2 vax + booster (or 2 vax if within 6 months), including kids 5+; kids <5 must stay away for now. I'm leaving out a bit, but you get the gist...

Gotta say that graph is disturbing. I'm curious to see what the biobot data will look like ( https://biobot.io/data/ ) but right now that only goes to 12/22.

[madfilkentist]

A post-Christmas spike was inevitable. The good news, such as it is, is that some countries have already gone past their peak. South Africa peaked in mid-December and has been declining since then. Perhaps this surge won't be too long-lived.