yo, I avoided covid up until august second. granted, for the first two years we didn't do anything, 100% WFH, groceries delivered, we were fortunate enough to be able to do so.
since January 2023 we started doing way more: the odd indoor concert (there were some shows I couldn't allow myself to miss) we saw some films in smaller theaters, dinner in indoor restraurants, in June we went on a sun holiday and ate indoors etc etc.
we were using NONS (nitric oxide nasal spray) religiously, so that may have contributed to how long we got away with it, but our luck ran out on the August second when I did the following (this is all in Dublin, Ireland):
Went to a colleague's retirement coffee morning, fifty, fity or so year old women all giving speeches and clapping in a small office, there was condensation on the windows so horrible ventilaton. I noticed at least one person discretely coughing into their elbow a few times.
went to a pharmacy where the pharmacist was rubbing snot from their nose with the back of their hand and coughing before they handed me the bag
went to a korean barbecue where several staff members would lean way over the table to cut/cook the meats on the table-grill
went to see a melodic hardcore punk band (teenage bottlerocket) in a small venue, lots of ooohs and whooooaaahs
went to a whiskey bar for a night cap
That was the Wednesday, and I was sick on Friday and starting testing positive Saturday. This variant works fast. My point is we avoided it up until very recently, and got it despite using NON (which has proven effective at clearing the virus from your nose (95% in 24 hours, 99.5% in 48) but there isnt much research yet on infection prevention) so it does seem to be around more.