Right now public health figures estimate that 1 of 4 Houstonians have COVID, the B.4 and B.5 variants that have mutated and escaped the vaccine protection. CDC has asked manufacturers to reprogram their vaccines for these variants, available in the autumn. These new variants spread rapidly and barriers like masks are not that effective, especially the paper ones most people use that do not seal to the face skin. That little gap is plenty wide enough to let viral particles floating in the air inside during inspiration and infect you. The good news is these variants are not as virulent as what first started 2 years ago. Testing and masks and all are just not going to help eradicate this virus, it's here to stay so be prepared to learn to live with it. I just returned from a trip and came home with my second case following my second booster dose. Almost half the travelers in the small group caught it somewhere. If you are waiting for it to disappear before resuming your life you might consider joining a cloister.