The Zero Covid Problem: Can It ever Be Attained?

PJ Media ^ | 01/03/2022 | Richard Fernandez

[SeekAndFind]

One of the unresolved debates of the pandemic era is whether the zero-Covid public health strategy is the correct one. This strategy can be loosely defined as driving Covid-19 as close as possible to zero through strict control measures so that community transmissions no longer appear and, should that happen, be quickly re-suppressed. Initially, even Europe and the U.S. tried this (remember two weeks to flatten the curve?) but quickly gave up with the emergence of new variants, although through 2021 a number of small, or easily isolated, countries persisted in the attempt. As 2022 dawned, however, even these were giving up.

Australians have largely been content to endure their enforced isolation from the globe on the basis that life continued largely unaffected by a pandemic which has killed 5.4 million people globally to date. But that policy of Covid zero, dubbed “fortress Australia” or “the hermit kingdom”, has now been profoundly deserted after the arrival of the Omicron variant coincided with a loosening of Covid-era restrictions….

Though Omicron has driven the increase in cases – by last week it accounted for about 80% of all Covid infections in NSW – the end of Covid zero had long been mooted. As the two-dose vaccination rate reached above 80% in November and weariness with Covid-era restrictions rose, the prime minister, Scott Morrison, became increasingly bullish about the country’s re-opening.

“Planes are back in the air, the kids are back at school, the restaurants are opening and a big Christmas is coming for all of us,” Morrison said at the time.

The major country that has not retreated from the zero-Covid course and in fact doubled down is China.

“Whatever the cost, China is likely to push extremely hard to keep the virus under control for most of this year,

[capydick]

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it and agree with you. I also am not anti-vax, hell I served 21 years and got jabbed with all kinds of stuff, not thinking about it much when told we needed another round. My one exception was the flu shot, I don't care what people or doctor's say, I got sick within 24 hours of the jab but got better within another 24 so I was ok with it when it was mandatory.

I also agree with the thought process that if Covid antibodies don't stay with you forever (I am going on 9 months now and paid for a T Cell test which was positive) then a vax won't either so when does it stop?

Also agree on the jab being a leaky vaccine which there is almost no broad discussion on - thanks again!