Page 99 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
these restrictions are utterly burdensome to some folks, to others who love a good adventure and who have learned to navigate the risks of Covid, it can be a time to go to out-of-the-way places and gain some great experiences.
Earlier here, I noted at this Time of Covid’s outset, our continent seemed both broader yet narrower than ever. With travel remaining seemingly restricted at the time of this writing, it does seem broader as very few readily travel across the country and distant travel seems an unlikely adventure. Still, computer-enabled meetings with their ‘Brady-Bunch’-style gallery screens make it seem narrower as we “gather” more often than ever, from our distant seats. Despite this, the yearning for more inexorably pulls us outward.
Economic forecasters predict travel as we knew it before March 2020 will begin to uptick this summer of 2021, as vaccination rates increase. “Vaccine Passports” may arise. A Johns Hopkins Medical School professor in late February, 2021 optimistically cited among other things, credentialed Swedish research regarding human “T-cells”, so called “Memory Cells”, that proves a greater exposure and ability to fight the virus within the global environment - more than prior mere antibody count studies. He concludes with current vaccination rates this shows human “herd immunity” will result by April 2021.
Yet inertia in markets will persist. Many experts say economic decisions will delay corporate and firm reimbursements until well into 2022. Many travel industry investor analyst forecasters expect travel levels will not likely return to 2019 levels until 2023 or even 2024, especially in international markets.
Michael Jordan, the basketball great, once was sidelined by a serious bone fracture in his foot. As he regained his ‘game,’ doctors estimated his risk of bone refracture at 10%. Team doctors restricted his playing time. Mr. Jordan flipped that logic, reasoning that the doctors were really saying there was a 90% chance he’d be fine. Greater than 90% scores an “A” in most universities and high schools. His comeback came much sooner, for he was willing to assume that risk.
Ah, “Assumption of the Risk”. That common law doctrine from our law school tort classes. Our lives always involve risk. Our individual choices, be they investments, outdoor activity, eating, cooking, playing, working — that is, living life — are rife with risk. Travel has always presented risk, risk that by 2019 minimized to a point where even the most anxious of us felt safe.
While it seems travel will “return”, it is here now. Although a much different experience from “pre-Covid”, it is still much the same. There is no “post-Covid” world in the reasonable future. Covid is now endemic. Many of the rules and changes now in place due to Covid will likely remain in some form or another. Although it appears
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