The media still likes it for ratings, though they are covering it differently than a year ago (not emphasizing hospitalizations or deaths now, just cases). Most people are sick of COVID and its impacts and media coverage, regardless of whether things or worse, the same or better, and without the media making it clear which it is (just saying cases are up isn't helpful without other data), even relatively cautious people are taking more risks because it is Christmas. Then we still have the "COVID is just the flu!" people, whose chant is getting more traction because of people being sick of it all.

Almost no one is looking at COVID trends and providing data that tells us whether things are worse or better, for vaccinated and unvaccinated, with the nuance of vaccinated who have passed 6+ months since their shots and so are more vulnerable.
[Post edited by WestyHokie at 12/29/2021 11:42AM]