For 663 days now, I've taken my doctor's advice and largely isolated from the general public, the better to avoid that nasty thing that's going around. This hasn't been as hard for me as it has been for some people because I'm used to working at home. Also, a lot of events I might attend aren't happening and a lot of places I might go just plain aren't open.
January 2 (i.e., today) is an annual event at the Magic Castle and I always try to attend it. Many months ago when it looked like it might be safe by now, I got a reservation for tonight's event…but a few weeks ago with Omicron spreading faster than [MAKE UP YOUR OWN JOKE], I decided to cancel that reservation. And a few days later, the Castle management decided to postpone it until late February.
So it's been like that. I don't go out much. Only a few Trusted Individuals are allowed in. One day recently, one of those Trusted Individuals was here for a while and shortly after, got a COVID test that came back as Positive. No one panicked. No one had symptoms. I ramped up my isolation and waited five days, as directed by my doctor, to get my own test. Meanwhile, the Trusted Individual waited five days and got another test.
Both came back Negative so activities are now back to normal — or as close to "normal" as it gets these days. I still ain't going anywhere I'd be in a crowd.
I have friends who wouldn't (or maybe couldn't) live in such confinement. They didn't pick such a solitary profession for themselves and their need to be around others isn't appeased by ZOOM conferencing. I feel sorry for them but confident that it will end and there will be Life After COVID. I'm just not confident as to when.