One mutation and goodbye good news
If you’re looking for a swifter end to the pandemic don’t demand the end of local vaccine mandates. Demand global vaccine equity
This week Toronto Mayor John Tory and Ontario Premier Doug Ford became bearers of rare good news. The only downside to their good news is that it may not be true.
“I believe that we are now on the other side of this pandemic,” Tory declared amid an announcement that civic buildings will reopen later this month.
The day prior, in light of his own announcement about the forthcoming elimination of COVID-19 restrictions, the Ontario premier delivered a similar message, albeit with an edge. “Everyone’s done with this,” Ford said about the pandemic at a news conference on Tuesday flanked by men in masks. “We are done with it. Let’s start moving on cautiously. The world is done with it.”
Of course the gaping hole in our leaders’ good news memo is that the virus is not done with the world. Just because we’ve turned a corner on Omicron does not mean we are on the other side of COVID-19.
In fact, when it comes to goodbyes, COVID-19 is a lot like Cher, an international traveller with a history of repeatedly fooling people into believing she has finally receded from public life only to resurface at every available opportunity. For example, in 2002, Cher embarked on her “Farewell” tour. In 2020, she wrapped up her “Here We Go Again” tour.
It’s unlikely the COVID-19 pandemic will span the length of Cher’s stage career: few things in nature are that resilient. But it is possible that some time in the near future, upon the discovery of a catchy new mutation, we will embark on a Here We Go Again tour of our own.
The hope, however, is that thanks to high vaccine uptake in Ontario and scores of recent Omicron infections, we will mount a strong defence against whatever new variant comes our way. The hope is that the worst — for our hospitals and our mental health — is behind us. And maybe it is.
But Ford does the people of this province no favours when he suggests in a huff that the pandemic is done because we are done with it. Nor does Tory do Torontonians any favours when he suggests, albeit in a more measured tone, that we are on the other side of a continually mutating virus.
The unfortunate reality of the situation is that our own stellar vaccination rates — whether city- or province-wide — can keep us out of hospital, but they can’t stave off future variants of concern. Until the global vaccination rate increases dramatically, new variants may continue to threaten our hospital capacity, social lives and economies.
According to Dr. Peter Singer, special adviser to the director general of the World Health Organization, 81 countries have not yet vaccinated 40 per cent of their population and 28 countries have not yet vaccinated 10 per cent. As Singer told CTV’s “Life Unmasked” podcast this week, we can end the acute phase of the pandemic this year if we vaccinate the world; ideally 70 per cent of the population of every country in it.
Nobody wants to think about this. I don’t either. I’d love to believe that if hospitalizations are falling on hospital row and tables are full at Terroni, normal Toronto life has resumed for good.
But this wishful thinking will only make reality more painful if and when it sets in. It’s likely that another variant will be identified. It’s possible that it will be more contagious or more virulent than previous strains — or both of those things.
I don’t say this to kick the reader when they are already down. I’m down too. I’m not trying to be pessimistic but rather realistic and proactive. If you’re looking for a swifter end to the pandemic don’t demand the end of local vaccine mandates. Demand global vaccine equity — a seemingly faraway goal that if achieved would improve everyone’s lot locally.
But by the same token our leaders must stop issuing rosy statements about the end of the pandemic that they wish to be true. Instead, tell the truth: that things are looking up right now, that we should take advantage. Get our nails done; go for Dim Sum; relish the moment with friends and family.
“Learning to live with COVID” needn’t only be a mind shift where personal risk and lifestyle is concerned. It can also be an opportunity to manage expectations about the end of the pandemic. The end will come but it will come in fits and starts. Enjoy yourself when you can.
It’s what Cher would do.