Is the COVID cure worse than the pandemic itself?

By Letter to the Editor on July 20, 2020.

Today, the cloth mask is seen everywhere. In reference to stopping airborn droplets, they are useful, but do not hinder the passage of viruses (as stated on many face mask boxes).

As a matter of fact, Canada’s Dr. Theresa Tam unequivocally stated in March “putting a mask on an asymtomatic person is not benefical, obviously if you’re not infected.” As well, during the same time, America’s Dr. Anthony Fauci stated on CBS’s 60 minutes, “There’s no reason to be walking around with a mask.” Shortly after, both doctors did an about turn, and fully endorsed the wearing of a mask. It has been observed by some contrarian experts that, to put it casually, “something’s up.”

Along with the mask, we have “self-isolation,” staying a body length from our fellow citizens, and having as little physcial contact in any way, shape or form with other persons. This is concerning to all factions of the population. As an example, The Herald’s 10 July article “Survey says kids’ social lives concern parents” mentions, “The results suggest that 71 per cent of participants are very or extremely concerned about their children’s opportunities to socialize with friends, and more than half are really worried about their kids being lonely or socially isolated.”

What are we doing? Is it worth it, and is it possible that this has been overblown? Consider Bill Gates, himself admitting that earlier SARS and MERS were more lethal than COVID-19, yet they came and went, without crashing the economy and severely impacting the functioning of society.

I will leave it up to the expert researchers why these draconian measures have been taken up by governments, but I would like to suggest that the so-called “cures” to this pandemic are vastly worse than the problem itself. Living fully and freely carries a normal level of risk, and reasonable and common-sense actions should be taken, commensurate with each situation. Concerning this present circumstance, we should at least be asking if this is the case.

Shawn Christopher Smith

Lethbridge