Rhinoceros is an absurdist play by Eugène Ionesco, written in 1959. There was a movie adaptation in 1974. Over the course of the play the inhabitants of a small, provincial French town turn into rhinos. It is about conformity and mass delusion. Ultimately only one human does not succumb to the plague. The main character’s love interest begins explaining that he is in the wrong for wanting to remain human. The rhinos, stampeding down the streets and building hallways seem happy as they bellow and scream. “Those are the real people.”, she says about the rhinos, “They look happy, they are right to do what they did.” She then quietly walks out the doorway to become a rhino herself, leaving him alone. The last human in the town and perhaps the earth.
We are living in a rhino apocalypse where the best defense is to be immune to peer pressure. Most people are returning to a pre-pandemic life. However the pandemic is not over with over 500 Americans dying every day. Granted back in January thousands of people were dying every day but over 2000 deaths a week is not unacceptable. Basic health precautions are still needed.
As people pack together in public spaces, they are living a mass delusion thinking no mitigation measure are needed. They are living a lie. Being fully vaccinated, I believe I am safe from hospitalization and death, but I am not safe from Long COVID. There is not treatment options or cure for Long COVID. It would mean months, years or perhaps a lifetime of debilitation illness. About 1 in 5 people who were infected develop Long COVID.
The CDC published a study which states, “It is likely that a substantial proportion of patients surviving COVID-19 will experience long term symptoms, requiring prolonged care even after a mild or moderate disease. These symptoms might negatively affect patients quality of life.” Though in black and white, it seems to have been kept rather quiet. There are no ongoing warnings about the dangers of repeat infections causing Long COVID so most of the population remains ignorant. Ignorance is bliss.
When I wear an N-95 mask in public, some people are genuinely insulted. You can see the anger in their eyes. They fear the mask because it reminds them that they are living in a fantasy. The contagion has already spread. Most people have bought into the mass delusion that becoming infected multiple times is the new normal.
Mass delusion is intoxicating and tempting. When you see large crowds of Rhinos gathering in tight herds and breathing in each others faces, it is tempting to believe that life has returned to normal. The rhinos seem happy. But the virus can not be seen and it is still circulating. Vaccines and repeat infections are not stopping the spread of the virus and the proliferation of new more infectious variants.