As for it being all too real, I can say I know of its impact since I had the virus in feb.
I did not know I had it, but none the less I did. I am pretty Healthy in general and this thing screwed me up for over a month and a half.
Did I feel like I was at risk of dyeing, not really. but I did exspearenced the shortness of breath and some of the other weird stuff., so who knows how close I was to death,
I could not worry about what I did not know.
But I do believe it might have long term effects on people also, so don't go out and get it because its just not a big thing.
For me, one of the long term effects is it has impacted some hearing loss that likely is permanent.
Now as for governments and all the closers and restrictions, is it overkill. I think we all know deep down inside it is, and in the long run has it really worked, Not at all, all it did was slow it down as to the speed of the spread.
But it will continue to spread and people are tired of trying to live by the restrictions that don't make sense. Society cannot just stop functioning because of this, people should have agency as to how they want to protect themselves from it and governments should back off on restrictions other than the most logical, least restrictive.
Like requiring face mask does not stop someone from making a living and functioning normally day to day (so there should be no issue in requiring it)- but telling someone they cannot operate their business is stepping above the level of where this should be taken to.
So I am in agreeance with anyone that thinks that these governmental enforced shut downs were wrong or not logical - we will all pay more for those type of actions than we will for the impact covid itself is having on us.
That's the more interesting discussion, I think.
One thing I thought was funny is that in my 'friend group', or more specifically an app group, there has been quite some discussion about this. At the start of the pandemic some where asking for a total lockdown, with tanks etc
Personally I didn't think that was a particular wise idea, as it will really melt the economy and from there many other stuff.
Now I don't think anyone in that group still wants a total lockdown, some are even questioning whether there is much merit in certain restrictions. The same who asked for the tanks
An analogy:
If I borrow someone else's car, the oil lamp goes on. It is orange, but I don't know for sure what this means:
* Is it just a preprogrammed light to change the oil every 10000km?
* Is it coupled to a sensor indicating that oil is getting low, but not yet in danger of effecting smooth running of the engine.
* Does it mean the oil in the engine is actually low and parts of the engine might not be lubricated sufficiently?
There is no manual and you don't have someone you can call. Do you A) continue driving till next pumpstation. B) Stop and walk to the next pumpstation, which will mean you miss your very important appoint?
In hindsight it's always easy to know what is the right decision. One might know that a real problem will always have a red light. Some will not even notice. Some will stop the car and not continue to drive nor knowing what even is wrong. There are three possible explanations, but you only have two choices.
Maybe the analogy is too simple for something complex like this pandemic. But I think it is difficult to say weather some measures have been too strict versus too lean. Personally I have the idea that a full lockdown and closure of many business might not be the right way to go forward. Enforcing 1.5m distance rule should be a priority though, because our healthcare WILL probably collapse if the second wave outpases the first wave. There then comes the difficulty: whether people oblige or not. So they are not obliging, what can you do as a governing body?
Sometimes you have to take a decision to do A or B, without perfect information. If you go changing your mind every too often, people will also become less cooperative with measures. Etc.
I don't know whether the measures are the right ones. I'm glad we didn't have a full total lockdown here. I hope most shops etc stay open. I will try to at least follow the guidelines to not be someone spreading the thing among others. I hope enough people will be sensible and do the same so we can go evaluating what works and what doesn't in a controlled fashion, while we're not in danger of collapsing our healthcare system.
Imo there were some countries who went quite far with lockdowns, or who continued certain measures for longer than seemed really necessary. But also countries that were late with measures, causing unnecessary spreading and consequences.
I hope soon 'they' can go evaluating who was right and who was wrong, because that will mean the end is on the horizon. Until that time I try to make the best out of it.
www.theguardian.com
