FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Apr 25

CEOs Continue to be Overpaid Despite Significant Layoffs in Several Sectors

by bcurry

A recent New York Times report notes that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) pay remains stratospheric, even at companies battered by pandemic.  For years now, I have been studying how CEO compensation has steadily been on a ridiculous climb whereby, according to the Economic Policy Institute, CEOs of big American companies now make on average 320 times as much as their typical worker.  The report notes that in 1989, that ratio was 61-1.  From 1978 to 2019, compensation grew 14% for typical workers.  During the same period it rose 1,167% for CEOs.  The same situation holds true in Canada where, for example, between 1995 and 2007 there was a 444% compensation increase for top Canadian CEOs.

Add it all up and it’s clear that executive pay is on the rise once again despite the millions of workers affected by layoffs due to the pandemic.  Executive compensation is again rising at a much higher rate than employee pay, inflation or even corporate performance.  The old justification that they deserve it based on performance doesn’t wash in many cases.  The Times article noted the following companies’ CEO compensation for last year.  Boeing’s CEO, David Calhoun, was rewarded with some $21.1 million in compensation despite Boeing having had a historically bad 2020.  Norwegian Cruise Line barely survived the year, but the pay of Frank Del Rio, its CEO, was doubled to $36.4 million.  Hilton’s CEO Chris Nassetta received compensation worth $55.9 million in 2020 despite nearly a quarter of the corporate staff members being laid off as hotels around the world sat empty and the company lost $720 million.  General Electric’s CEO, Larry Culp, received $73.2 million last year and could collect well over $100 million more, thanks to a recently updated pay plan.  GE is still reeling from years of mismanagement.

The above noted examples are just a few in a continuing saga of CEOs being outlandishly paid for simply being CEOs, despite companies having difficult times as a result of the pandemic.  Firms will argue that much of this ridiculous situation is a result of how the market has evolved over the years regarding competition for so-called top managers.  They pay lip service to the importance of supporting their workers, but still believe that their CEOs deserve more than 300 times the compensation of those very same workers.  In Japan, and throughout much of Asia for that matter, there’s a much more balanced approach.  In 2007, Japanese CEOs were making on average only 10 times to 15 times more than their base level employees.  When their companies don’t do well, Japanese CEOs insist on taking a comparable pay cut unlike most American and Canadian CEOs.

A sad part about this pandemic on the economic front is that it continues to contribute to the growing societal inequalities that have needlessly evolved over the several decades.  To deal with the economic impact of the pandemic and the deficits incurred by governments at all levels, there needs to be an increase in taxes on multi-millionaire CEOs and billionaires, most of whom have evidently benefited from soaring stock markets.  Failure to deal with increasing inequities will result in more societal pain and poverty.

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Apr 11

Hesitancy About Getting COVID Vaccine Remains A Major Concern

by bcurry

In both the U.S. and Canada there is a hesitancy among a certain portion of the population about getting the COVID vaccine, despite the recent surge in vaccine supplies in recent weeks.  The concern is often due to various forms of vaccine scepticism, sometimes attributed to peoples’ continuing distrust of government or mistrust of the health care system.  In the U.S., this mistrust is particularly evident among African Americans, notably where the health care system has frequently let them down in the past.  Among a significant number of white Republican supporters, including college-educated Republican women under age 49, much of the hesitancy can be attributed to the misinformation that flourishes on social media and the mixed messaging from Republican governors that leave people confused.  A number of heavily Republican states are currently finding themselves with surpluses of vaccine doses, including Oklahoma, Ohio, Georgia, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas and Alabama. 

Part of the problem is that several of these states have eased their restrictions thereby sending a message opposite to a narrative that promotes the urgency of vaccinations.  With the rise in cases involving so-called variants, such as the U.K. variant which is believed to be about 60 percent more contagious and 67 percent deadlier than the original version of the virus, the U.S. and Canada must take the matter of vaccine scepticism seriously.  Both countries have seen a recent surge in outbreaks despite the arrival of vaccines.  The hesitancy has national implications.  As alluded to on several occasions, experts suggest that between 70 percent to 90 percent of all Americans and Canadians must be vaccinated for a country to reach herd immunity, the point at which the virus can no longer spread through the population.

Fortunately, the issue of vaccine hesitancy may be less of a concern in Canada.  A survey of Canadians in March by the Angus Reid Institute noted that the number of respondents who said they would not get the vaccine at all remained relatively steady at about 12 percent.  Since last fall, Canadians’ hesitancy about COVID-19 vaccine appears to have been dropping, with a good majority (over 80 percent) stating that they would get the vaccine as soon as possible.  Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for many Americans.  For example, according to several recent surveys, nearly half of all Republican men and 40 percent of Republicans overall have said they do not plan to get vaccinated.  This attitude is further reflected in their continuing hesitancy to wear facial masks and to socially distance, something the Trump administration encouraged at the pandemic’s outset.

Since it appears that there are people who mistrust politicians on the matter of COVID vaccination, some public health experts suggest that what’s needed are well-crafted messages delivered by doctors, religious leaders and other figures who are trusted in a particular community.  Unless vaccine hesitancy is reduced significantly, there is a real danger of vaccines sitting on shelves somewhere, and possibly passing their best before dates.  In the fight against the spread of the variants, neither the U.S. nor Canada can afford to have this happen!

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Apr 5

Will Religious Organizations Help Prolong The Pandemic?

by bcurry

Once again, we are witnessing a struggle between science and religious beliefs.  This time it has become even more political as a result of states and provinces continuing restrictions on gatherings and rolling out COVID-19 vaccines.  Some churches in both the U.S. and Canada have refused to comply with government restrictions on the size of gatherings, arguing it goes against freedom of religion rights.  However, the courts have generally ruled that governments have a right to implement such restrictions as a matter of public safety, especially given the serious nature of the pandemic.  Then there are the arguments by some churches against being vaccinated, again on religious grounds.  This has major implications for ending the global pandemic and eventually establishing what is referred to as “herd immunity”.

In the U.S. alone there are about 41 million white evangelical adults.  According to a recent survey by the Pew Research Center in February, about 45 percent said that they would not get vaccinated against COVID-19, making them among the least likely demographic groups to do so.  In comparison, 22 percent of Catholics in America say they will not get the vaccine, despite the fact that the Vatican has concluded the vaccines are “morally acceptable” and has emphasized the immediate danger posed by the virus.  A number of leaders of white evangelical congregations have been forced out of their churches after promoting health and vaccination guidelines.  Much of the opposition is rooted in a mix of religious faith and a long-standing wariness of mainstream science.  Opposition is also being fuelled by a broader cultural distrust of institutions and gravitation to online conspiracy theories, making such beliefs governed increasingly by political considerations.  There is one clear unavoidable fact that the rates of COVID-19 death have been about twice as high for Black, Hispanic, and Native Americans/Canadians as for white Americans and Canadians.  For this reason, despite over half a million COVID deaths in the U.S., perhaps these white evangelicals don’t believe they are at risk.

What is making the situation worst is the fact that religious leaders continue to mistrust scientific leaders by pointing to sources of misinformation on both sides.  In the case of evangelicals, it is only other evangelicals who can really provide informed guidance based on the facts surrounding this pandemic and the steps needed to end it.  Some leaders have already attempted to try to sway their followers towards the need for vaccination and to continue to take precautions in the short-term at least.  However, as one expert notes, distrust of scientists has become part of cultural identity, of what it means to be white and evangelical in America and Canada.

As both countries go through another wave of coronavirus involving more deadly variants, both political and religious leaders are going to have to convince an outstanding part of the populations that is against being vaccinated on religious and political grounds.  Churches also have a major role to play in poorer more vulnerable countries where there are significant evangelical populations.  Simply put, trusting in God and ignoring the real consequences of this disease isn’t going to help resolve the problem of millions of related deaths occurring around the world.  Whatever our beliefs, we owe it to our fellow humanity to help put an end to this scourge once and for all.  Opposition to the vaccines and restrictions, whether religious or otherwise, has to be overcome sooner rather than later. 

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Apr 1

Current Restrictions on Americans Entering Canada Tough to Take

by bcurry

Canada and the U.S. have the longest land border in the world, one which is normally open for Canadians and Americans to easily cross.  This all changed with the advent of COVID-19 last spring.  Except for essential trade items, land border restrictions for travel between Canada and the U.S. came into effect a year ago and remain in effect through April 21, 2021.  Given the current increase in coronavirus cases in both countries, the restrictions most likely will be extended.  Needless-to-say, this has had a horrific impact on tourism in both countries.

On the other hand, air travel between both countries does allow for the entry of Americans and Canadians into Canada and vice versa but with numerous restrictions.  All airline passengers aged two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel.  Travelers entering Canada must present a credible 14-day quarantine plan.  Failure to provide a negative COVID-19 viral test will require airline passengers to take a COVID-19 molecular test upon their arrival in Canada.  Passengers then must stay in an approved hotel for three nights awaiting the results of the viral test.  Those who test positive are required to finish their 14-day quarantine in a Canadian government-designated facility.  All of this at the cost of the travelers, which can add up to thousands of dollars.

Failure to comply with the current Canadian border restrictions is a serious matter.  Compliance failure is considered an offence under the Quarantine Act and could lead to up to $750,000 in fines, and/or imprisonment of up to 6 months.  Something not to be sneezed at!  One can see that, unless someone is involved in essential work and is required to travel, most average Americans will avoid travelling to Canada by air or by land.  Indeed, except for essential workers such as truckers hauling goods across the border, most Americans are being turned away at the border crossings.  This is particularly tough on families where family members are located in both countries.  Allowing for entry because of humanitarian reasons is determined based on each individual case and can take time to adjudicate.  Good luck!

Fortunately, in their usual spirit of cooperation both countries have agreed to each other’s restrictions.  However, this does not make it any easier and numerous complaints have surfaced about the handling of situations involving both Canadians and Americans.  In the meantime, until this pandemic is truly under control, one can only predict that such restrictions will remain in effect for travel between the two countries in the coming months.  Both governments simply prefer that we don’t travel — period.

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Mar 29

China Is Moving Quickly Into International Void Left By The U.S.

by bcurry

Anyone paying attention over the past couple of years to China’s moves on both the trade and diplomatic fronts would have seen great process in its filling the void left by the Trump administration.  China’s influence abroad was greatly led by its ‘Belt and Road Initiative’, a multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure scheme intended to stretch from East Asia to Europe.  China has lent billions of dollars to countries to upgrade old or to build new infrastructure, including roads, dams and railroads.  This initiative recently culminated in a 25-year cooperation agreement signed by China and Iran to strengthen their long-standing economic and political alliance.  This could deepen Beijing’s influence in the Middle East and undercut American efforts to keep Tehran isolated.

Back in January, Bloomberg News produced a synopsis about how China had won Trump’s trade war and even got Americans to foot the bill.  The trade deficit with the U.S. has significantly increased and China had easily withstood Trump’s tariff salvos.  In 2019, a group of 10 Southeast Asian nations replaced the U.S. as China’s second-largest trading partner.  Furthermore, most U.S. manufacturers surveyed last September said they didn’t intend to move production out of China.  There is no evidence that the U.S. tariffs on China benefit American workers and the tariffs have actually cost American companies and consumers in loss incomes.  According to the country’s National Bureau of Statistics, the Chinese economy rose 2.3% last year.  By contrast, the U.S., Canada, Japan and many nations in Europe have suffered steep falls in economic output, especially after the emergence of the pandemic.

Then there is China’s willingness to provide its COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable countries, including Brazil where hospitals have been overwhelmed by a surge of infections.  CoronaVac has turned out to be the most affordable and most accessible inoculation for the more vulnerable nations.  In China, Sinovac, the maker of CoronaVac, started delivery tens of millions of doses overseas, reportedly providing free samples to 53 nations and exporting it to 22 nations that positioned orders.  Meanwhile, the U.S. appears to be hoarding vaccines and its forecast supply reportedly will be enough to vaccinate 650 million people — nearly twice the U.S. population.

All of the evidence indicates that China, as part of its foreign and trade policies, is attempting to extend its growing influence abroad through a number of avenues.  Meanwhile, countries like the U.S. and Canada can only sit on the sidelines and watch.  It is unclear whether the American or Canadian governments can do much to counteract the growth of Chinese influence in the international sphere.  Indeed, it may be too late given the existing long-term economic problems in both countries.

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Mar 19

Anti-Asian Racism On The Increase In North America

by bcurry

A recent study in the U.S. indicated that Anti-Asian hate crimes have spiked 150 percent since the pandemic began.  In Canada, a June 2020 survey by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute noted that, of those of East Asian descent surveyed, half reported being called names or insulted as a direct result of the COVID-19 outbreak, and 43 percent further said they had been threatened or intimidated.  Then came the March 17, 2021 shootings in Atlanta, Georgia, where six of the eight victims killed are of Asian descent — shootings subsequently being investigated as a possible hate crime.  Anti-Asian attacks in person and on-line have significantly increased during the past year in both countries.  Physical or verbal attacks have particularly occurred in major urban centers with large Asian communities such as Los Angeles, New York, Vancouver and Toronto.  Asian Americans and Canadians are increasingly fearful for their safety and even their lives, especially after the tragic Atlantic shootings.

People of Asian descent have been living in the United States and Canada for more than 160 years, and have long been the target of bigotry and racism.  In both Canada and certain U.S. states, there are hate crime laws in place.  However, hate alone without the addition of a criminal act is not illegal, and proving that a criminal act is a hate crime can be a difficult action.  Unfortunately, under the Trump administration, certain expressions used by the former president could be taken as anti-Asian in their context.  Former President Trump frequently referred to COVID-19 as “the China virus,” “the Wuhan virus,” and the “Kung Flu.”  All adding fuel to an already burning fire.  Blaming Asian Americans and Canadians for the pandemic outbreak unfortunately also became immersed in the propaganda of white supremists groups in both countries. 

What seems to be missing are national programs aimed at educating people about the contributions of people of Asian descent in both countries.  Such programs must emphasize that physical and verbal attacks on citizens, no matter what their colour, gender and ethnicity, is wrong and unacceptable.  Indeed, U.S. lawmakers have called for national action in the wake of the Atlanta shootings and for the creation of a national day to speak out against anti-Asian hate later this month.  Mayors in large urban centers have spoken out against racial attacks on their Asian communities, but much more needs to be done. 

It greatly saddened me and I’m certain many others that any particular group is being singled out by bigots and uninformed individuals.  Many of us know people of Asian descent in our communities who not only merit our respect, but also deserve our protection.  They are health care providers, educators, police officers, military personnel, researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and work in many other professions.  Like us, they are hard workers, raising families, supporting their elderly and living peacefully in the community.  It’s time that we all step up and condemn any further spread of hate literature and personal assaults on our Asian citizens.  As one Asian American activist recently noted, “Who marches for us?”

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Mar 7

Canada’s Prisons Are Broken — Whole Systems Need To Be Fixed

by bcurry

Back in the early seventies, I came across a report by the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) that placed Canada among the worst countries for recidivism as it pertains to its prison population.  “Recidivism” is defined as the tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.  What the report pointed out is that the system is primarily one of incarceration and not rehabilitation.  When I questioned the Solicitor General at the time, whose department was responsible for administering the prison system, he acknowledged that there were serious problems with high levels of recidivism.  The OECD could not find any evidence that Canadian prison sentences reduce recidivism and concluded that prisons should therefore not be used with the expectation of reducing criminal behaviour.  A fairly recent report by the Office of the Correctional Investigator found that more than 40 percent of all inmates released in Canada are returned to custody within two years, usually on parole violations.  About a quarter of all those released from prison are convicted of a new offence within those two years, although most charges are non-violent.

To make matters worst, one is dealing with increasingly large prison populations.  Since the 1970s, OECD countries have experienced steady increases in prison population.  The U.S. has witnessed a huge jump in the prison population that bears no historical comparison, with a prison population in 2000 four times as high as in the early 1970s.  When comparing prison populations in 2000, the U.S. stands far above the norm with an incarceration rate five times as high as the OECD average.  More than 1.2 million convicted American adults are in prison.  Canada’s rate is also far too high with an incarceration rate of 107 persons per 100,000 of national population, ranking 17th among countries surveyed in 2020 (Statista.com).  The U.S. ranks first with an incarceration rate of 655 persons per 100,000 of national population.

Rising prison populations, unless fully resourced, generally reduce the effectiveness of criminal re-education.  Upward trends can pull down the staff-prisoner ratio, a key component for achieving effective prevention of re-offending and promoting reintegration in the community. Moreover, prison overcrowding tends to exacerbate already high levels of tensions and violence, raising the risks of self-injury, suicide, substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS.  Overcrowded prisons are more likely to act as “universities of crime”

In Canada, Black and Indigenous inmates represent a significantly disproportionate number of inmates compared to their percentage of the national population.  These inmates are notably more likely to be rated as a security threat, despite the data showing them less likely to reoffend than white offenders.  In the U.S., the same can be said for Black and Hispanic inmates who are disproportionately represented when compared the general population.  There is little doubt that the prison systems are plagued by systemic racism.

The pandemic has only exacerbated and highlighted the existing poor conditions in our prisons.  Resulting in the deaths of numerous inmates, COVID-19 has run rampant in prisons despite governments’ assurances that everything is under control.  Interestingly, in order to reduce prison overcrowding, many non-violent prisoners were given early release and parole in both countries during the pandemic.  There are so many continuing reported problems with prison life that one could write a book about them.  Indeed, several studies about deplorable and unsafe prison conditions are gathering dust on shelves somewhere.  Unless society develops new non-incarceration policies and implements initiatives aimed at supporting real rehabilitation, including alternatives to imprisonment, the recidivism rates in both countries will continue to be unacceptably high.

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Mar 4

There May Be Light At The End Of The Tunnel, But How Long Is The COVID Tunnel?

by bcurry

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!

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Mar 2

When It Comes To COVID-19, Journalists Need To Have More Analytic Skills

by bcurry

How the media analyzes statistics coming out of data bases in countries has in itself created confusion as to what they signify in terms of effectiveness in dealing with the pandemic.  Right now, the coverage of course is concentrated on the rollout of vaccinations among countries, particularly those in the industrialized groupings.  This is understandable given that countries are largely depending on vaccines to help them get through the pandemic economically and politically.  The problem is that when all is said and done, a broader assessment of the efficacy of each countries’ approach to tackling COVID-19 will be needed.  In some instances, a country will have better dealt with controlling the initial outbreaks more successfully than others.  Take for example, the U.S. and Britain.  With over a half-a-million COVID-related deaths, the U.S. ranks seventh in deaths worldwide per one million population as of March 2, 2021 (as per Statista.com).  With over 123,000 deaths, the U.K. ranks fourth in deaths worldwide per one million population.  The U.S. has had close to 29 million confirmed cases and the U.K. over 4 million cases to date — incredibly high numbers.  However, one has to recognize that big differences show up between countries when combining the number of deaths against confirmed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 test rates can vary per country.  Eventually, epidemiologists and statisticians will have to investigate such anomalies.

Nevertheless, despite the obvious fortunate distribution of vaccines in the U.S. and U.K providing hope for an eventual end to the pandemic, the costs associated with recorded deaths has been far too high each country.  In particular, the coronavirus has disproportionately affected visible minorities, especially people of colour, and those in lower income neighbourhoods despite their numbers being less than half of the total population.  What has made matters worst is the fact that the large number of past and present cases led to the growth in COVID variances in both countries.  As we know, these variances are more easily and quickly spread from person-to-person.  This led to more cases of COVID-19 which in turn has put more strain on health care resources, leading to more hospitalizations, and to potentially more deaths.  Rapidly emerging variants became the biggest problem in the U.K. and states like California, something which perhaps could have been avoided had more stringent measures been put in place at the pandemic’s outset.

In Canada, lockdowns and other restrictions were implemented back in the early spring and resulted in the number of COVID-related cases and deaths levelling off during the summer.  Canada, although with a smaller population than the U.S. and U.K., ranked fiftieth in terms of deaths worldwide per one million population as of March 2, 2021.  Of the 22,000 recorded deaths, the majority unfortunately were disproportionately among seniors in long-term residences in two of the most populated provinces, Ontario and Quebec.  This unfortunate situation is why both provinces have targeted vulnerable seniors in both provinces as the country’s initial vaccinations begin to roll out.  However, with around 900,000 cases, analysts may conclude that Canada’s overall approach to the pandemic has been successful in limiting the number of related deaths and hospitalizations. 

Taking all the data into account down the road, I am certain that some countries’ approach to tackling the pandemic will have proven to be more effective than others.  In the meantime, many of the restrictions imposed by health authorities will have to be maintained in the coming months to avoid the emergence of a third and possibly more deadly wave of the virus.  This is despite the current rate of vaccination in all countries with which the media appears to be currently infatuated.  Given the evident concerns about the impact on economic growth in all countries, this proposition will not be an easy one politically to accept, especially now that more pandemic fatigue has set in. 

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Feb 24

When It Comes to COVID-19, the Cure Could Be Worse Than the Disease?

by bcurry

I just heard a radio interview with a so-called expert on infectious diseases who proclaimed that he viewed government prevention actions are worse than COVID-19 itself.  He suggests that health authorities are being overly cautious and that the extent of lockdowns and restrictions on openings are overkill.  His views are especially disconcerting, particularly as they are presented just as the U.S. has surpassed half a million COVID-related deaths.  He seemed to imply that the worst is over, even though numerous other experts have expressed serious concerns about a possible third wave due to the disease and its variants.  Indeed, it has just been disclosed that a coronavirus variant emerged in California and has surged to become the dominant strain.  This California variant not only spreads more readily than its predecessors but also apparently evades antibodies generated by COVID-19 vaccines or prior infection.  Not good news!

Yes, there is little doubt that lockdowns of businesses, events and schools hurt a lot of people.  However, what is the alternative?  How many deaths are we willing to accept as a consequence of remaining open and removing our masks?  If one takes the Swedish example where schools and businesses remained open for a substantial period of time following the pandemic’s emergence, there have been many times the number of deaths compared to other Scandinavian countries where more restrictions were quickly introduced.  We now know that the Swedish economy did not do any better than other economies who implemented lockdown practices.  Swedes became increasingly fearful of going outside and eating in restaurants in light of the high death totals.  In addition, there has been no herd immunity until now and Sweden will have to rely on vaccines and continuing precautions to contain the coronavirus, including the variants. Just like the rest of us!

As mass inoculations occur globally, it will take several more months before one can safely say that the pandemic is truly under control.  In the meantime, ethically we need to avoid and limit the potential of future COVID-related deaths as much as humanly possible.  This may mean that certain societal restrictions, including those on travel, will need to be maintained in the coming months.  Yes, vaccines will help.  However, the reality is that it will take the remainder of the year to inoculate enough of the global population to eventually create some form of so-called ‘herd immunity’.  The science is always trying to catch up to the mutations associated with COVID.  Remember as Dr. Anthony Fauci notes: “If viruses don’t replicate, they don’t mutate.”  The greater transmissibility of the virus could cause hospitals to become so overwhelmed and healthcare resources to be stretched so thin that more deaths are the result.  This is why we need to stop the further spread of variants by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, physically distancing, avoiding travel and limiting exposure to others.  It’s a difficult cure, but it is a lot better than the consequences of having more significant outbreaks of the disease in our communities.

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