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OPINION 29.4.2021 Kevin-James Fenech Kevin is the founder and owner of JOB Search - jobsearch.mt and FENCI Consulting fenci.eu. He is a management consultant and business advisor by profession, focusing on strategy, human resources and recruitment. He has a passion for anything related to business and has written about the topic for over 10 years in most major newspapers or journals I apologise for stating the bleeding obvious but I get this strange feeling that when we reach herd immunity (June 2021) public health officials will continue to insist on COVID-19 restrictions, the most striking of which is to have to wear a face mask when outside. To my mind, it is clear as day: As soon as we reach 'herd im- munity' in this country, most (if not all) public health re- strictions should be rescinded and the people given back their freedoms and liberty. is week in an open letter to the UK's Prime Minister, 22 scientists including Professor Lisa White, Modelling and Ep- idemiology, University of Ox- ford, strongly advocated the '… removal of all coronavirus restrictions by no later than June 21…' e open letter declares that COVID-19 will become '… demonstrably less fatal than seasonal influenza viruses…'. In fact the scientists go as far to state that: 'We can be very con- fident that they (the vaccines) will reduce Covid deaths by around 98 per cent and serious illness by 80-85 per cent…' e letter concludes: 'In short, the level of popula- tion immunity we have now achieved by targeted vacci- nation and natural infection means that the SARS-Cov-2 virus in the UK has become demonstrably less fatal than seasonal influenza viruses' and '…Covid-19 is now a mild en- demic infection, likely to recur in seasonal waves which renew immunity without significantly stressing the NHS.…' Last Sunday, coincidentally, Dr. Antony Fauci stated that he expects the CDC to issue updated guidelines on wearing masks outside since the '…the risk is really very low, particu- larly if you're vaccinated.' Whilst this week MIT pro- fessors Martin Z. Bazant, specialised in chemical engi- neering and applied mathe- matics, and John W.M. Bush, specialised in applied mathe- matics, both at MIT, published a research paper which stated that social distancing indoors as advocated by WHO is not based on science and is pure 'fearmongering', claiming that people are as safe at 6 feet as they would be at 60 feet if in- doors.' For further informa- tion: https://www.pnas.org/ content/118/17/e2018995118 My point being that COV- ID-19 no longer requires ex- ceptional measures of control of peoples' lives. Consequent- ly, and logically, the Govern- ment must as a bare minimum, lift the nonsensical restriction of having to wear a face mask outside. I don't want to get into the science of whether or not face masks are effective, since I know this will lead to a futile and circular argument with public health officials. Even though, I have seen raw data which shows that COVID-19 infections still increased when face masks were obligatory. Furthermore, I think wearing a face mask outside especial- ly in temperatures exceeding 30c is pure madness. What I will however point out, is that face mask wearing in reality is a constant comedy of errors, since real people constantly touch their face, wear the mask below their nose (to be able to breath), re-use beyond a face mask's useful (safe) life, share masks, remove or put on in- correctly, etc, etc, which leads me to the conclusion that face masks could actually be part of the problem given the reality on the ground. Anyway, I digress, my point is that herd immunity means exactly what it says on the tin: Herd Immunity. So if we are as a population 'immune' come June, we should not have to wear face masks especially when outside. Actually, this applies to public health re- strictions in general. What we have had to endure throughout 2020 and half of 2021 has been exceptional. Got forbid, if Pub- lic Health Authorities assumes that beyond June 2021, it can continue to restriction and control our lives. Herd immunity means herd immunity and with this impor- tant milestone public health restrictions need to be lifted permanently, come June. Since we will as a population no longer be at risk of spreading the virus (given the sterilis- ing impact of immunity) and COVID-19 will not be lethal anymore for virtually 99% of the population (as a minimum no more than seasonal influen- za). So yes life can go back to normal and thank you to all the health professionals and doc- tors that made this possible in the impressive vaccine roll out which has led to herd immuni- ty being reached in June 2021. #liberty #freedom #democra- cy #lift the restrictions once we reach herd immunity #thank you ! Herd immunity means herd immunity

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