That's been a long running argument, and like dyno testing the value of any particular measure is less relevant as an absolute and more as a yardstick, to evaluate the increase or decrease caused by particular factors. Personally I prefer "excess deaths" as a measure because it also takes into account deaths caused by associated causes, such as failure to treat other conditions due to covid clogging care systems.

However you measure it the fact remains covid is an extremely dangerous disease that we should not take lightly. The UK seems to have normalised 2-300 people a day dying (within 28 days of a covid diagnosis, for the pedants), which is equivalent to a 9/11 scale death toll every 2 weeks. This staggers me in a country that is still trying to reduce road deaths from an average 4/day. And while people may see this as an acceptable price to pay for not having to wear masks on public transport (yes I'm being sarcastic) building up that sort of endemic situation is storing up trouble for the future until long lasting vaccines are developed, while the NHS has the biggest backlog in its history and chronic staff shortages, and an increasing number of people are suffering from long covid.

For us, I guess the day is coming closer when we can once again go on our extended holidays (let's not kid ourselves we are intrepid explorers) and frankly border closures are irrelevant while the virus is running rampant by community transmission due to inadequate public health measures and low vaccination rates. I reckon by next year fully vaccinated and boosted travellers will find their progress largely unimpeded, but for the world - particularly the poorer parts - the crisis is far from over.