IMAGE: Covid ActNow "Well, despite phenomenal vaccination rates, variants pulled ahead this week." – Dr. Ashish Jha, Dean, Brown University School of Public Health, March 28, 2021 Many public health experts including Dr. Michael Fine, Dr. Ashish Jha, and Dr. Rochelle Walensky have warned another COVID surge is upon us, and it’s a race between vaccinations and variants. At least in Rhode Island, it looks like our state’s virus-friendly policies are letting variants pull ahead in this deadly fight. Rhode Island has consistently had among the five highest infection rates in the country for most of the pandemic and the fourth-highest death rate. Last year those infection levels resulted in extensive safety measures, yet now bring reopenings of bars and indoor dining in restaurants. We are our own worst enemy and continue to shoot ourselves in the foot by letting infection levels stay dangerously high.