Government has dropped ball on its COVID response

By Letter to the Editor on December 15, 2021.

Editor:
With the rise of the Omicron variant, the world seems to have been put on hold once again and several countries including Canada, have reacted in extraordinary ways. Though perhaps “overreacted” would be a better word.
Prohibiting flights from selected African countries made little sense considering that as of the 9th Dec., Omicron is now spreading in 57 countries and counting. This is a snap shot of reality.
That it was confirmed by astute scientists in South Africa merely means that the virus mutation was already widespread across the globe.
Because of their forthrightness, South Africa and a few other neighbouring countries are now being punished.
The somewhat relaxed land border with the U.S.contrasts with the testing protocols applied to these so called “high risk” countries and which will soon be applied to all countries – except the U.S. Not unlike the porous border allowing “essential workers” to travel freely across the 49th parallel a year or so ago.
Health Minister Duclos currently feels that the situation in the U.S. is “under control”. Well, that is certainly one opinion.
Our government has once again fumbled the ball at a critical time during the pandemic and by insisting on COVID tests to be performed only in selected countries outside of certain African nations – the so called “third country rule”, hundreds of travellers many Canadian citizens , are “trapped”. Some even travelled to Ethiopia to obtain a test – a country that Global Affairs warns against visiting.
A one-week window has now been opened (6th Dec) to facilitate testing in Frankfurt because our federal government failed to understand the consequences of the newly introduced measures. Perhaps,Belinda Dodson, an African migrations issue expert said it best : The “third country rule” was based on “ignorance and political posturing”. Further, we are the only G7 country opting to go this route.
Additional testing upon entry from limited targeted countries makes no sense , is confusing , impossible to enforce and whilst it may make the feds look like practical action is being taken, the reality is quite different.
Expanding this list everywhere except the U.S. adds to the confusion.
The grim COVID scenarios being considered are not even confirmed at this point in time (7th Dec) and it remains to be seen whether or not the new variant can evade vaccination or immunity obtained from natural infection.
Case numbers are no doubt increasing but critically, hospitalizations and ICI admissions are currently down, primarily because of increasing vaccination uptake in most age groups, vaccine mandates and mask wearing when indoors in public spaces.
Onerous lockdowns whilst necessary early on are no longer required because of the advent of vaccines and social responsibility.
But after almost two years, it would appear that our leaders have once again been stymied by this pesky plague.
Let us hope that the government of Canada introduces meaningful measures and not participate in knee-jerk reactions to yet another and likely not the last, incursion of COVID.
John P Nightingale
Lethbridge