It’s been almost two years since COVID-19 was first declared a pandemic, and yet every few months a new variant emerges, sweeping through entire populations and thwarting any plans for a return to pre-covid normal life. While many governments are still using lockdowns, mask mandates, online school and business closures in order to blunt the surges and prevent a health care collapse, some countries like England and Denmark are pivoting away from these measures, aiming to treat COVID as we do other common infectious pathogens: no restrictions, no mandates, no closures. Governments and health experts supporting this approach argue that safe and effective vaccines and treatments will protect the majority of infected people from severe illness and death. Online learning is detrimental to the mental health of children, exacerbates inequality, and keeps parents out of the workforce. Governments finances are at the breaking point having had to repeatedly bailing out businesses. And finally, humans are social creatures. We cannot continue to prioritize the health of a vulnerable few over the mental and physical wellbeing of entire populations. Many in healthcare and public health do not agree. Yes, COVID is not as dangerous a threat as was originally, but record case counts lead to widespread staff shortages and hospital overcapacity. Letting a virus run rampant is an irresponsible health care approach that will lead to more disease, deaths, and highly transmissible variants. Previous measures like masking and closures have curbed the rapid spread of COVID, and when and if necessary, governments should not hesitate to introduce them again. 

Arguing for the  motion is Jay Bhattacharya, epidemiologist and Professor of Medicine at Stanford University

Arguing against the motion is Jeremy Faust, public health researcher and core faculty in the Emergency Division of Health Policy and Public Health at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, instructor at Harvard Medical School

QUOTES:

JAY BHATTACHARYA

“We have put in place lockdowns and other measures to try to control the spread of the virus with really no endpoint in sight, permanently altering the way we live in pursuit of a futile goal.”

JEREMY FAUST

“We should be willing and able to respond with mitigation and protective measures, exactly when we need them…If we don't do that, we deprive ourselves of the life that we want and also the safety that we all deserve.”

“We need to be sensible. Do things when there are surges, protect everyone, including the elderly, when we're at higher risk, and then yes, when case numbers decrease, we can relax.”

Sources: 

ABC News, Good Morning America, Sky News, Global News

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