Why fear opening up like other states?

THE EDITOR: Most ordinary people may be intimated when the authorities say they are using data and science to make decisions about covid19 and the lockdown. I don’t doubt they are using data and science. But clearly they are using something else: fear.

Last week Saturday the Prime Minister surveyed the world to find the scariest examples to support his approach to opening up. Perhaps I could give the other side.

Italy: A few weeks ago Italy was one of the hardest hit counties in the world. Today the country is open including restaurants, bars, churches and salons. These are the things of which we are mortally afraid.

Georgia: Four weeks ago when he decided to open up, the governor was ridiculed by people using the data and the science. One newspaper accused him of engaging in human sacrifice. Other experts predicted a wave of deaths in three weeks.

Today, four weeks after, both hospitalisations and deaths are down and economists are beginning to use Georgia as a model. Included in the governor’s opening up were churches, nail salons, gyms, restaurants and theatres.

Most populous states: In a comparison of the four most populous states in the US (California, Texas, Florida and New York), Texas and Florida have the lowest number of deaths and low mortality rates. Texas has the lowest mortality rate among the four. In Texas and Florida restaurants, salons, churches and gyms are open.

All of these examples have guidelines for the sectors that are open, but they are open.

Clearly one can use the worst scenarios or one can use the best scenarios. It’s how you use the data and the science, and your risk appetite. I know the US “is not an example for us” but we have Italy.

The mortality rate in children is almost zero. The mortality rate in people over 60 is very high. Therefore, for the majority of the population there is a low risk. Why can’t we open the country with special guidelines for the at-risk group?

Recently, possibly the world’s leading infectious disease expert, Dr Anthony Fauci, told the US Senate, “The overwhelming majority of people recover from this virus.” Our own data in TT support that statement. So why the fear?

GLADSTON CUFFIE

via e-mail