Researchers urge US to ‘reset’ Covid-19 approach
SCIENTISTS in the United States have urged the government to reset its approach to the coronavirus pandemic, warning that the world’s hardest-hit country was “not on course to get control” of an outbreak that has so far killed 150 000 people and infected 4,4 million.
Wednesday’s call from researchers at Johns Hopkins University came as the US reported its highest single-day jump in Covid-19 deaths since May, with the states of California, Texas and Florida all setting one-day records for fatalities.
The scientists’ policy brief said that while the US had managed to bring down cases in May by implementing stringent stay-at-home orders, the current spike in infections was overwhelming hospitals in many parts of the country and “stressing many sectors of society, from business to education to healthcare”.
Hospitalisation rates for Covid-19 in most states now match or exceed numbers seen in New York City, the previous epicentre of the outbreak in the country during the peak months of March and April.
“Unlike many countries in the world, the United States is not currently on course to get control of this epidemic. It’s time to reset,” the brief said, outlining 10 actions required to stem the virus’s spread.
Chief among them was a recommendation for the universal use of masks, physical distancing, hand hygiene and avoidance of large gatherings.
“Without having these measures in place, it will be difficult to maintain control of outbreaks or turn the corner on an outbreak that is accelerating,” the brief said.
“Covid-19 has reached a point in the United States where these protective actions should no longer be called a matter of individual choice, but measures of societal responsibility.”
In areas where the outbreak is worsening, officials must reinstate stay-at-home orders until numbers improve for at least two weeks, the brief said. Such a decision will be disruptive, it acknowledged, and therefore leaders must prioritise clear and transparent communications to convey to the public the motivations and anticipated timelines for the closures.
Other recommendations included bolstering supplies of personal protective gear and diagnostic testing kits at healthcare facilities. The scientists also called for better analyses of epidemiological data and scaling up contact tracing across the country.
“The coronavirus pandemic is the most serious epidemic threat to the United States in a century,” the brief said.
“The United States has reached a critical point in the outbreak trajectory, and serious consideration needs to be given to ways in which the response can be improved. The time is now to move forward to reduce transmission and save lives.”
The brief echoes the advice of many health experts who say the US outbreak could be brought under greater control if guidelines to maintain physical distancing and wear masks in public were enforced nationwide.
But President Donald Trump has rejected a federal mask order, and while he was initially reluctant to be seen wearing one, he has recently come round to the idea.
The president is also pushing states to fully reopen schools when the academic year begins in the autumn, but teacher unions and local officials have called for students to stay home and for classes to move online.
Meanwhile, Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs Minister Nkosazana DlaminiZuma has said government will re-evaluate the alcohol ban regularly as it wants to limit the hardships facing the economy and livelihoods during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Dlamini-Zuma filed the reasons why government reimposed the alcohol ban as wine farmers took it to court to challenge government’s decision.
On July 12, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the reimposition of the alcohol ban with immediate effect after alcohol sales were allowed under Level 3 of the nationwide lockdown to curb the spread of Covid-19.
In her papers filed to the court, Dlamini-Zuma has said government has no desire to leave the alcohol ban in place longer than necessary.
“It is contemplated that the suspension of the sale of liquor will be re-evaluated with regularity as government aims to also limit hardships facing the economy and individual livelihoods during this period. There is no desire on the part of government to leave this prohibition in place for longer that it is regarded necessary,” she told the court.
The Southern African Agri Initiative (SAAI), which represents 120 wine farmers, approached the High Court, calling the alcohol ban “irrational, arbitrary and unreasonable”.
Dlamini-Zuma gave a detailed account of how the decision to reimpose the ban was arrived at, including listing several advisories received by the Ministerial Advisory Committee advising government.
“I considered a wide array of empirical evidence as to whether a temporary prohibition on liquor was an appropriate tool to alleviate the burden caused by the rapidly increasing rate of transmission of Covid-19 and overcrowded hospitals, and whether less stringent methods might yield the same results”.
Several restaurant owners, chefs and industry suppliers took to the CBD streets in protest against the government’s lockdown regulations.
Dlamini-Zuma insisted that it was simply a short-term measure amid the pandemic.
“The prohibition on the sale of liquor was taken as a temporary measures until the rate of infection slows down or drops. It is one of a number of measures imposed to slow down or drop the rate of infection, together with other measures imposed, such as the curfew and social distancing in public places.” — Al Jazeera
TO get to the remote Isle of Rum, visitors can hop on a scenic train ride, fly in via helicopter, or take a ferry ride.
The Scottish island is an ideal destination to escape. People can explore the isle’s mountains, discover the Kinloch Castle, encounter wildlife, and cycle through winding paths.
For many, the Isle of Rum is a destination to add to a growing bucket list. For others, it could be a dream place to live.
If you fall into the latter category, you’re in luck. The community is hoping to entice new permanent residents to move to the island.
The Isle of Rum is home to about 30 residents, but community leaders are hoping to grow that number
The community “is looking for dynamic individuals or families who are keen to fit into the island way of life and help drive positive change for this young and growing community,” according to the Isle of Rum Community Trust’s website.
The trust states that two of the biggest fears people face when considering moving to the island are not being able to find a home or a job on the island.
To entice prospective islanders, the trust is building four eco-friendly homes for future residents.
The construction of the homes is set to be complete in two months. However, the community is still looking for homeowners to settle on the island. The application for a home on the Isle of Rum closes on Friday, and the trust is hoping to price the rent at about R10 000 a month.
The trust stated that it’s prioritising applicants who have either young children or skills not currently found in the community.
“With only one child in nursery and two in our primary school, we need more families to fill our school, as well as to be the next generation of islanders,” Isle of Rum resident Lesley Watt told the local Scottish news outlet STV News.