Conrad Black: Coronavirus hysteria will soon come to an end

 

PHOTO BY JULIE OLIVER/POSTMEDIA

Is it possible that the coronavirus hysteria will soon come to an end? Yes, it is. And it is that soon, the US elections will end, and whatever the result, the rationale for the anti-Trump Democratic press will end to incite public hysteria regarding COVID-19.

COVID-19 known as coronavirus disease is an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which has caused a stir around the world, and in fact, it could be said that for an instant it paralyzed it. Now, the basic facts are that the coronavirus is not fatal to 99.997 percent of people under 65 and it is not fatal to 94.6 percent of people over 65. Likewise, the vast majority of people of all ages, including the elderly, have minimal or no symptoms when they suffer from it, and approximately 98 percent of people who contract the coronavirus and survive it seem to be thereafter largely immune to it, at least for a time.

Irremediable consequences

It is clearly characteristic of this virus that it cannot be prevented from spreading, and indeed the only lasting cure for an entire society is a vaccine, and up to seven largely effective vaccines are in the final stages of development and are likely to some are available by the end of this year. There is no doubt that the process of discovering, testing, and distributing a coronavirus vaccine has been the subject of such intense and universal interest that the normal time required has been reduced by more than a year. Although vaccines are rarely 100% effective, they certainly drastically reduce the incidence of the disease and boost the morale of affected populations.

A relevant fact to mention is that the research also shows that more than 80 percent of deaths attributed to the coronavirus in advanced countries that conduct extensive testing and accurately report are people who also suffer from other important diseases or vulnerabilities. That said, there is also ample evidence to show the negative consequences of economic and social shutdowns. It is clear that not only was the unemployment rate multiplied by five to ten but a large number of businesses, including most aspects of the travel, hospitality, and entertainment industries, are effectively strangled. Meanwhile, education is severely reduced in all respects by being done at home in many cases, even with the support of schools and universities. There is no setting aside the fact that many people experience some degree of depressed or moody feelings, and develop substance dependence as a result of prolonged loneliness. Now, has this all come to an end?

Source: Conrad Black | National Post