Kicking the Goalposts Down the Road

Today we check in on Chicago! At our last update, the number of covid-positive patients in the hospital had fallen by almost 50%, down to 770. In the couple weeks since, that number has fallen AGAIN by roughly 50%! (Spring works every time!)

Hurray! Clearly the Omi wave has passed, and covid hospitalization numbers are as low as they’ve been in months. (Once again the total number of covid patients doesn’t seem to matter, though, as Chicago hospitals are 82.8% full, about the same as last update.) Now’s a good time to check in on Chicago’s vax pass, because remember:

The Public Health Order will remain in effect until the City of Chicago is through this Omicron-driven surge and the risk of overwhelming hospital capacity has passed.

Now a group of alderpeople are requesting the lifting of the rules, as it’s clear the danger has passed. The city’s response?

Chicago officials announced they’ll also lift the city’s mask and vaccine card requirements at the end of February if local metrics decline.

The metrics have been declining for weeks. But they swear they’ll give you back your freedom in just a few weeks. Pinky promise!

This is where we point out that Illinois has seen the same curve as Chicago, with no vaccine passes.

It’s also where we point out that Illinois has the same curve as their neighbors, some of which have no restrictions at all.

The cynical among us can’t help but note that a lifting of rules ‘at the end of February’ would coincide with Biden’s new State of the Union date of March 1 to declare victory over covid. But as the data continues to prove, the rules don’t stop covid, they simply offer opportunities for power-hungry politicians to expand their domains.

And once politicians have settled into their new ‘role’, it’s extremely difficult to remove them. Ask the kids still wearing masks (that everybody knows are worthless) in order to go to school, even as blue states drop their mask rules left and right.

There’s only one proper response.

Fuck you, I won’t do what you tell me!