Let’s face it, early on health officials were aware of potential issues regarding the major outbreak in China of a new virus, especially after their experiences with SARS and H1N1. Blaming Chinese authorities and the World Health Organization (WHO) for withholding information is simply looking for an escape goat. In a very short period of time, the WHO went from declaring an epidemic to a potential global pandemic. Unfortunately, many governments, including the U.S. and Canada, reacted somewhat slowly. It took time before flights to and from Asia and Europe were cancelled and borders closed to non-citizens. Apparently, there were pandemic-preparedness plans in place, but authorities were ill equipped to implement them or simply ignored them. Essential stockpiles of personal protective equipment (PPE) were either inadequate or expired. Ventilators were in short supply. Lockdown measures took time to implement.
In order to protect the health care system from becoming overloaded, most governments finally ordered economic and institutional shutdowns. They had no choice but to contain the coronavirus, especially as so-called hot spots emerged. However, in the case of the U.S., President Donald Trump began talking privately as early as mid-March about reopening the nation, despite the swiftly rising number of coronavirus cases and against the advice of health professionals. The administration’s top health authorities had warned that in the absence of any viable medical treatment and adequate testing, sustained and economically painful restrictions on daily life were the only way to beat the virus. In some situations, this remains the case.
The authorities have had several examples in other countries of the effectiveness of certain lockdown measures, such as in Taiwan and South Korea. Given the success to date of these examples, there is little excuse for U.S. and Canadian authorities not to continue to follow the appropriate health and safety measures, including physical distancing. It’s all very nice and well to suggest that business closures are detrimental to our liberties and freedoms, but the fact is that the health and safety of entire societies are at risk. We have already seen the potential for second waves of the virus in several countries, suggesting that a careful and gradual reopening of certain economic activities is called for. The health authorities and researchers know this. You’d think that the politicians would listen to expert advice and implement measures accordingly. People’s actual lives are at stake!
It doesn’t help anyone to blame others for our current status or for past mistakes. Optimistically, once we have this pandemic under control there will be plenty of time to review what happened prior to and during the pandemic. Hopefully, the goal of any independent domestic and international reviews will have an aim of ensuring that future pandemics will be better dealt with. They should not be to simply assess and issue blame for political expediencies. After all, there is plenty of blame to go around!
FROLITICKS 