Today one hears a lot of spokespersons stating that we can now see a light at the end of the COVID tunnel. However, I would ask just how long the tunnel is? Yes, we fortunately have seen the incredible introduction of several effective vaccines in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere. However, although the inoculation of people against the coronavirus, especially those who are vulnerable, is great, the slow speed with which the vaccinations are taking place is worrisome. Then there are those who believe that it is alright to now remove the pandemic control measures, such as wearing masks in public, restricted business openings and social distancing. Recently, the governors of Texas and Mississippi lifted state-wide mask requirements and have allowed all businesses to operate at full capacity. In the case of Texas, this was done even though the state considerably trails the national average for vaccinations. Texas recently recorded more than 7,000 new cases daily and, in recent weeks, ominous variants of the virus have appeared in the state. Indeed, Houston became the first American city to record five of the COVID-19 variants circulating worldwide, including a number from Brazil.
When it comes to dealing with COVID variances, one can learn a lot from the current Brazilian experience. No other nation that experienced such a major pandemic outbreak is still grappling with record-setting death tolls and has a health care system on the brink of collapse. Much of this is due to the emergence of a variant that swept through the certain Brazilian cities. The variant is not only more contagious, but also appears able to infect some people who have already recovered from other versions of the coronavirus. Throughout the pandemic, researchers have said that COVID re-infections appear to be extremely rare, allowing people who recover to presume they have immunity, at least for a while. However, in the case of this new Brazilian variant, it has been reported that some who recovered from COVID-19 months ago had fallen ill again and tested positive. This suggests that researchers in the coming weeks and months will have to constantly be modifying the vaccines to deal with such variants, including that from Brazil.
What this developing situation implies is that, while taking tentative steps toward a semblance of so-called normalcy, countries will have to be very careful about lifting restrictions too soon. In both the U.S. and Canada, health officials continue to plead for everyone to maintain social distancing and mask-wearing. Simply by too quickly lifting official sanctions related to transmission precautions, governments are sending out the wrong messages that this pandemic is soon coming to an end. There is little doubt that after over a year of lockdowns, economic costs and public restrictions, there is a degree of “pandemic fatigue”. While vaccines offer hope, until a sufficient percentage of the population is fully vaccinated the danger of the re-emergence of the virus in new and more lethal forms is always there. One only has to look at Brazil and the fact that Texas is seeing an increase in new COVID cases and emerging variants of the virus. Yes, optimistically there is perhaps light at the end of tunnel, but the tunnel appears to be a long one!
FROLITICKS 
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