For many, the belated realization that Covid will be ‘a long war’ sparks anger and denial

Realization that Covid will be 'a long war' sparks anger and denial - STAT Though this new outrage might look and sound like righteous indignation, mental health professionals say that what’s behind it is fear. Megan Molteni STAT

Last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised everyone — even those who’ve gotten Covid-19 shots — to go back to indoor masking, a decision driven by new data showing the hyper-contagious Delta variant colonizes the nose and throat of some vaccinated people just as well as the unvaccinated, meaning they may just as easily spread this new version of the virus, while stilling being protected against the worst manifestations of the disease.

The prospect of contending with a prolonged outbreak phase — and adjusting again to a constantly evolving roster of restrictions — has brought back another feature of pandemic living in America: anger.