Letter of the Day | Fear and anxiety will not eradicate COVID-19

THE EDITOR, Madam:

With the rapid spread of the newest COVID-19 variant, Omicron, many countries are once again, enforcing strict rules, limiting capacity levels, and enforcing mask-wearing indoors (where these rules were previously relaxed). The Canadian government recently issued a travel advisory warning citizens against non-essential travel to foreign countries. We have heard all of this before, two years since the pandemic began when very little was known about the virus, its transmission and its impact. I’m surprised that some governments are still pushing the fear agenda, amplified by gullible media.

The strategy now should be, how do we learn to live with this virus, until it is no longer a threat? I certainly do not believe in herd immunity, the risks are too great if we hope that the majority become infected and are immune. While this may happen in a small country, it is more challenging in bigger countries and places where vaccination rates are extremely low. People will also move around by travelling. We cannot ignore the extra costs of herd immunity and the devastating impact on the health sector, with increasing numbers of hospitalisations and deaths. A layered approach with various efforts to fight the virus is more ideal.

In the early months of the pandemic, I deliberately tried to tune out of much of the media and daily briefings. The numbers and projections were staggering, and varying degrees of lockdowns, remote working and learning were too much. This created anxiety, fear and depression among many. Today, the United States with its high case numbers no longer relies on fear. In some states like Florida, you would never know a pandemic is ongoing. People are out and about, living their lives, working, playing, studying, and doing so safely. Of course, we cannot ignore reality, but we must strike a balance somewhere with a sense of normalcy, which is vital for physical and mental health.

Yes, there are protocols to be followed in most settings, and social interaction can be restricted and limited to close circles. People continue to travel on holidays and do so safely since testing is now a routine requirement for most destinations. Airport traffic in many countries is almost back to pre-pandemic levels. Of course, public health authorities must confront reality and plan ahead to reduce risks. However, it is more effective to ramp up public relations efforts, enforce protocols for safety and encourage the importance of booster shots. To tell people they should not travel will not work, not two years into this pandemic. If our only strategy is to push fear, we will never get out of this.

P CHIN

chin_p@yahoo.com