“Maybe the grim circumstances of COVID-19's spread lent these gatherings a greater air of camaraderie, given that we were braving possible illness and death in order to enjoy nightlife culture.”

I hate to say this and I don’t mean it as an indictment. But the reality is that, given predominant demographics, the primary risk you bravely took was to become infectious vectors, thus creating greater potential for illness and death among other, more vulnerable members of the community.

I get there’s a balance and we don’t want to see the nightlife scene (or dozens of other businesses and services) impacted by this, but unless we want to have hospitals completely overrun and a long-term economic collapse, I fear we are going to need to make some very painful choices.