We are still having 550 people die of COVID-19 per day nationally, which seems like a really high # to me.
That said, here in NE Iowa, the rural county I live in with a population just > 17,000 currently has no hospitalizations, a 14-day positivity rate of 1.8%, and no new cases today. The past week or so just 0-2 new cases per day. The rural county north of us had a new death reported, so it is not entirely over.
Our fully vaccinated rate in our rural county just went up to 50.4%. Dubuque County to our east has a 62.2% vaccination rate, and the county to our north has the lowest rate in our area of 47.7%
When experts last summer thought we could achieve herd immunity with 70% vaccinated, I think they were counting on vaccinations that were just 55-70% effective. No one thought then the vaccines would be > 90% effective, or as safe as they have turned out to be.
I bought carry-out tonight at the Chinese restaurant across the street from my office. I was surprised to walk in and for the first time since March 2020 there were diners inside; the family operating the restaurant was very cautious throughout the pandemic. When things closed down in March 2020 my neighbors went to visit extended family in Calif. for a few weeks, when they reopened to carryout in April there was a line around the block for carryout. My neighbors have always had a large carryout business, despite a quality dining area. I was so buoyed to see the support they had here, but then they have a good product.
Things are starting to brighten up, and are looking up here.