Covid-19 – Questions
It is clear that Covid-19 is not going to go away for a very long time. It will be another year before we begin to know the extent of seasonal resurgence; eighteen months before we have a usable medication to defeat the virus; three years before that medication is moderately widely available. There may well be another pandemic before this one is cleared up.
These are not especially pessimistic thoughts, they are realistic.
Global warming, population density, movement from country to city, intelligent pathogens – all contribute to the risks. Lack of preparedness for Covid019 – in spite of repeated warnings that another pandemic was highly likely – left many countries including the United States, Europe and the United Kingdom ill prepared.
We need answers to questions about Covid-19. Here are some of them. Please add to them.
What was the source of Covid-19?
How did Covid-19 get released into humans?
Why does Covid-19 have such variable effects on different humans and societies?
What causes the rate of decline in deaths in those countries where it is declining?
Who is carrying the virus most threateningly for its transmission?
What is the effective period and method of isolation to limit the spread of the virus?
Why are fewer people getting the virus?
What are the actions that have been really effective in reducing infection spreading?
If you’ve had the virus what are the chances of your getting it again?
How life threatening is it to get the virus a second or third infection?
Is there any real sign of herd immunity? What is the reliability of these signs?
Why does the virus appear to be tempered by warmth, exacerbated by cold?
Will the return of winter to the Northern Hemisphere trigger more cases?
Will there be a second, maybe third, possibly permanent round of infections?
Is the virus mutation so fast that no medication can be effective except temporarily?
What are the chances that the virus mutates into something even more dangerous?
Realistically when can we see medication to put a stop to it?
How fast could that medication be distributed?
What do we need to do to minimise the risk of contracting the virus?
Are diet or lifestyle ways of reducing the risk of catching coronavirus?
What inventions can help us to live with the virus?
Is burying victims wise?
What steps does each country need to take to prepare for the next pandemic?
What financial steps can be taken to protect the world economy for the future?
What should countries now prepare for financially for national health?
The deadly virus has so far caused a known quarter million deaths, probably many more. If the world’s health services had been even less prepared than they were this might now be many millions. A calm, realistic assessment of these, and other, questions is needed to prevent more serious panic when the next pandemic occurs.
It must be non-partisan to the extent that that is possible. It must be supervised by Chairperson(s) of stature who are respected by the medical, financial and political fraternities, and the public..
It should start now.