Darius Sinha
// COVID Continues //
Things are looking up in the long battle the world has waged against COVID-19. Non-COVID news stories have begun to dominate the media, which provides hope for some as well as a respite from the pandemic. This poses risks, however. Although people may be inclined to declare victory over the virus, it is important to realize the grave risks in letting our guard down prematurely, especially considering the rise of the Delta variant.
India presents a grim case study of what can go wrong if a nation prematurely eases precautions. In January, Indian Prime Minister, Norendra Modi, gave a speech touting India’s incredible victory. The country’s health minister (a position akin to the US Secretary of Health) echoed these sentiments. India reopened with gusto. Commercial activity picked up, bazaars were crowded, huge wedding parties resumed, and massive crowds gathered for religious festivals. Then, disaster struck. A second wave of COVID-19 infections arrived in springtime, outpacing the first. A more contagious and deadly strain of the virus – the Delta variant – swept through the community. Although official Indian statistics listed 400,000 deaths in the period, independent sources estimate that the real numbers may be ten times greater. As Americans condole with India, they must take notice that easing back COVID-19 restrictions could have disastrous consequences.
At a glance, the situation in the US provides a false sense of security. The numbers of new cases have come down to a seven-day average of 88,000 new cases, and businesses are reopening after over a year of quarantine. Economists, politicians and policy pundits are optimistic about opening up the country again to get back to business as usual. Schools have restarted in-person classes, businesses have welcomed customers back, most states have ended their emergency protocols, and international travel has resumed. Last Labor Day Weekend, the TSA screened over 2.2 million passengers a day, up from 0.9 million in 2020.
However, some people seem to be forgetting that the virus still exists. With greater interactions between people come new opportunities for the virus to spread. Not surprisingly, 99% of COVID cases in the US are now of the Delta variant. The US has seen COVID cases and hospitalizations rise to a peak of 175,000 new cases per day over the summer, especially in states where there are low rates of vaccination (such as Wyoming, Mississippi, and North Dakota) and mask-wearing. Accounts of healthcare workers in many parts of the country are sounding the alarm on rising numbers of COVID patients in the ICU (Intensive Care Unit). The United States population must heed these warnings and not let impatience or premature optimism push the country towards potential disaster.
Thankfully, politicians have learned how policies can be put in place that can keep us safe without being draconian or burdensome. For example, the United States Labor Department is putting into place a policy where companies with greater than 100 employees have to have everyone be vaccinated or tested for COVID weekly. Within the context of schools last year, even with vaccines not accessible to students for the most part, institutions like BB&N formulated COVID testing and contact-tracing programs that proved effective in ensuring safety of the community. Most recently, the updated guidance from Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has detailed the procedures K-12 institutions should follow to resume in-person activities as safely as possible. The guidance includes recommendations for mask wearing and reasonable distancing between students, while specific distancing requirements are left up to school leaders. Scientists have identified the ways by which the virus is spread, mainly via aerosolized droplets that are released through actions like sneezing or coughing. Public health experts have also devised ways to control the spread of the virus including mask wearing, frequent hand washing, and social distancing.
The US has come a long way to combat the pandemic. On October 14th, 2021, President Biden said “We’re headed in the right direction. We have critical work to do, but we can’t let up now.” People must keep in mind that the virus is mutating and can strike back with renewed force if we are not careful. In addition, vaccination efforts are essential. Similarly, mask wearing in indoor spaces must become a social norm, rather than mandated. There will, hopefully, be a time when the COVID battle is won, but as of now, we are not quite out of the woods.
COVID Testing in the United Kingdom
Healthcare workers paying tribute to the loss of a colleague to COVID