Ok – I have been directed by some comments below that younger people are getting sick. I have read a few Covid-19 articles and they do make this point.
However, I must say that they did not state that the young people were”healthy”. If you eat tonnes of junk food and sugar you can be 30 and be immuno compromised. And I wonder how many of those young people in ICU are have smokers or drinkers?? Are they obese? So maybe the conversation here is about personal health, not just public health. I was going to delete this post but I will leave it here so that everyone’s comments have their own say. I stand corrected that the young are largely not affected but it seems very unclear as to whether truly healthy end up there. Maybe the young who end up there smoke, drink and live off sugar and never exercise. Now that would be a very interesting enquiry. Thanks everyone for sharing your opinions. I really appreciate all of your opinions. Keep talking and sharing information and keep thinking for yourselves.
Like I said I’ll leave the thread open as it was. Here is my original albeit edited post……. And I don’t stand corrected in my original point regarding the spell of fear. Here is the original post……
I’m just going to say it. Many people seem to have confused the simple action of flattening the curve and become enmeshed in fear around COVID-19.
I am not trying to undermine the appropriate response to the virus. But I am questioning the spell many appear to have fallen into around it. And I am advocating for an updated policy approach and a measured and informed movement in a new direction.
I have been in self isolation for almost 3 weeks now. I was an early adopter and it was the right action at the time. But we have more information now.
It’s good we took action to social distance. It’s good we flattened the curve. Now let’s not go overboard and get possessed by Covid-19 paranoia.
The fear state leads us to think that is about NOT-catching the virus. However this not the point. The point was to slow the spread to not overwhelm the health system. However we will only overwhelm the health system if the vulnerable get sick enmasse. Its actually ok if healthy people get sick (based on current evidence) as long as we DON’T infect the vulnerable.
UNLESS you are in the various risk groups or immune compromised, you won’t clog up the health system by getting the virus. Healthy people who catch it will not overwhelm the health system but will potentially contribute to a gradual herd immunity. I’m no health expert do I don’t know how to facilitate this but I think we need a change of perspective based on latest data.
The evidence seems to say that if you are healthy and fit you will be pretty fine, So to all those people i’m saying don’t buy into the fear of catching it. Respect the need of the vulnerable but let go of the fear drama around catching it.
The data suggests that the majority of people will have no symptoms and many more only have mild symptoms. If you are healthy and of working age, without respiratory or cardiac illness, or diabetes, then it will likely be just like a dose of flu. So chill out (unless you are of poor health or immuno comprised).
Regarding the Covid-19 fear state:
Being in fear reduces your immunity. In a state of fear, you are less able to think rationally and clearly for your self. You are easily manipulated in a state of fear. You naturally look for sources of authority to guide you in a state of fear. In this time we actually need to be able to think clearly and participate in our future.
Second point – it’s been said before and I’ll say it again. There is far more at risk if we totally collapse our economy and take on generational debt.
We need to think clearly about where to go next rather than just give over to what we have been told.
Locking down was a good idea before we knew what we know now. A month ago we didn’t have really clear retrospective data on who the risk groups were. We now have quite solid data sets from China and Italy and various countries hardest hit and we now know who the risk groups are.
My second suggestion – instead of smashing our economic future (and all the health issues associated with long term debt and economic depression) – and since we know how to finance isolation (well done Scomo and co) – why not commit to isolating the vulnerable and at-risk – pay them well for staying safe – and gradually via a staggered approach, let the rest of us start to return to work – in a measured approach – with strict isolation protocols for those working with the vulnerable – and let’s finance massive testing to control those in contact with the vulnerable – and let’s start to ease back into work in order to create a herd immunity – by letting THE HEALTHY contract the Covid-19 virus gradually …. And let’s just have the flu season we need to have – to get through this…. Like I said, the majority won’t even know they have it.
I’m not a public health expert so I’m not suggesting how we do this but I think this is an idea worth considering now – now that we have more information. Fuck the vaccine. There will be so much mental and economic health damage by the time we get a Covid-19 vaccine it won’t matter any more.
If we get stuck in the headlights, paralysed by fear with mental images of COVID horror, we will end up roadkill. There is nothing smart about getting stuck in fear.
A global recession we had to have? Or herd immunity via an intelligently managed flu season we need to have? Hmmm. Interesting thought.
I may get crucified for sharing these thoughts.
So be it.
By Guy Simpson
