Four steps to normalcy

THE EDITOR: Recently I saw a video from a virology specialist in the US. He said recent statistics in that country have shown that 78 per cent of the population are asymptomatic. In other words they can spread the coronavirus to others without getting infected themselves. So we can forget worrying about those 78 per cent.

With respect to the remaining 22 per cent of the population, 90 per cent of those who get infected are either over 65 years old or have some pre-existing condition, eg cancer, diabetes, stroke, etc. Note that 2.2 per cent supposedly die.

To return to normalcy three steps are necessary. Step one requires that those people in the 22 per cent with pre-existing conditions should self-isolate, and all those over 65 years asked to work from home.

Step two requires that the 78 per cent – except for children (extra precaution) – should be allowed to go to work, on condition they wear face masks. Note, asymptomatic people can’t get infected, but can infect others, but wearing face masks prevents this.

Steps one and two would have to be the short-term situation, until we find a way to build immunity – step three – to this virus. Hiding from it may flatten the curve but will definitely not remove or cure the curve. The medical fraternity would have to come up with these immunity solutions.

Step four would be our wait (long-term solution) for the vaccine.

ROGER GORDON

Cascade