I am not a perfectionist. I do not believe in the bromide that everything worth doing is worth doing well. Some things are worth doing although they are not worth the time or energy required to do them well.

But some things must be done well, and paying attention to covid is one of them.

That does not mean isolating yourself. It does not mean living in a box. It means being prudent and careful. It means, in addition to vaccination and masks, following Japan’s “3 Cs” — avoid crowds, close contact and closed spaces. That approach helped Japan limit its death toll to fewer than 20,800 over the past two years…

For me, paying attention to covid means monitoring local conditions and adjusting. In New Orleans, as in most other places, the omicron surge is rapidly declining, but the absolute numbers are still worrisome. For now, I don’t wear a mask outdoors. I go out for coffee every morning but sit inside only if I’m next to an open door. I socialize with friends who are equally careful. I go to restaurants, eating outside. I even go to the gym, a high-risk activity, but I mask and exercise next to open windows. When the numbers get good enough, I’ll return to dining inside and abandon my mask indoors.