En Garde

​A couple of weeks ago, I saw a story here in Los Angeles about an increase of COVID cases in the Pacific Palisades and Brentwood, near where I live on the Westside. 

And now there’s an additional story, somewhat related, of COVID cases continuing to rise in Los Angeles County on Thursday – although, happily, the article adds, “albeit more slowly.”  And it says that what has been driving the rise have been the more affluent communities including Beverly Hills, Bel-Air on the Westside, as well as, Studio City, Sherman Oaks and Encino in the Valley (though the last three aren’t anywhere near the “affluent” level of the first two.

It’s important to note that the rise is in “cases” and not hospitalizations or deaths.  That fits into my theory about the rise in cases in a lot of areas, including locales that previously hadn't been associated with an COVID increase, like white affluent areas. 
 
I suspect that when people get double-vaxxed, many of them feel like they’re totally protected and almost have a defensive bubble shield around them, so they lower their guard and let down many of the protections they were doing before.  And so they stop wearing a mask, almost everywhere.  They stop washing their hands as often.  The get together with groups more often.  And they go into more indoor areas with a lot of people – like movies.  And so, though they’re safe from serious illness and hospitalization, they’re leaving themselves much more open to getting infected than before.  Again, I’m not a doctor, but I’m SURE that that’s at least a part of the reason.  And even a sizable part. 
 
It’s sort of like why we read for years stats that say many people in Los Angeles get hit when in a crosswalk because, by law, pedestrians have the right-of-way the moment they put their foot in a crosswalk, and so they think it means they’re fully protected, almost like having a force field shield around them, and so they aren’t as careful and don’t look for oncoming traffic.  But since the law says cars have to stop and give way, they believe “By law, cars must stop, so cars will stop, and so I’m safe.”  And, of course, cars don't always stop, and it's worse for the pedestrian in the sidewalk.
 
In affluent neighborhoods, where there’s likely a far-greater sense of entitlement, that probably plays a part in the COVID increase, as well.  “We’re double-vaxxed.  We’re affluent.  We’re protected.”  And so, the guards come down.
 
Again, at least it’s “cases” and not hospitalizations and deaths.  But I sure wish it was lowering.