i think the rule of thumb should be (and i'm not just figuring this out now, i posted this in this space over a year ago) that if you want to try to stop a virus then you need to be thinking in binary terms.

if you're going to mandate something, you should be confident that it's 100% effective - and go that extra step to make sure it is.

so, if you think the virus can jump 2 m, you need a 5 m social distancing policy, and you need to enforce it. if you can't enforce it, you should abandon it.

and, if you think that masks are only 80% effective, you should actually ask people not to wear them - and try to get them to wash their hands more often, instead.

we do this every time a public health problem comes up - we get arrogant and decide we know what to do, and then realize 100 years later that we were  exactly, completely wrong. this isn't different. but, what is different is that we at least have the theory to figure it out right away, rather than need to stumble around trying to figure it out for the next 100 years.

trust me, somebody will find this blog in the year 2220 and realize how fucking right i was, in the face of total idiocy, at every level.

but, if you don't want to walk down that path with me, let's at least realize that it's time toe ease up on the selective pressures. the vaccines will be more effective, that way - if you're not creating selective pressures to undo them.