The virus is clearly winning, it just matters less now. But if it matters less now, it mattered less months ago too. Vaccines have been available for a long time. It seems to me that restrictions since then have been and continue to be a waste.
Context and time are relevant. Both Delta and an undervaccinated population were issues months ago. I would not say the virus is winning, nor would I call the response here a shit show. The CDC here has been saying since late last year that we will eventually need to live with Covid when it arrives.
A related response: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=31189893