Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1471309
LOOKING back over the past year, there can be lit- tle doubt that the COVID-19 vaccination drive was an overwhelming success. Consider, for instance, that today's figures – with five deaths and 488 total cases yesterday; up from 315, on Sunday – are entirely anal- ogous to the statistics being reported in June 2021. Yet unlike this time last year. there is no discern- ible corresponding public alarm, of the kind that prompted emergency health restrictions over the past two years. Indeed, the 'return to normality' has (so far, at least) been a far smother transition than most had anticipated. Not only has social distancing almost become a 'thing of the past'; but despite the sharp increase in cases over the past month, the rate of hospitalisation – and even more so, fatalities – has remained conspicuously low. So low, in fact, that today's considerable number of infections - which would have shocked the nation two years ago or less – now hardly even makes the news headlines. And this is, after all, as it should be; for it was all along the mortality rate of COVID-19 – and not its rate of transmission – that was cause for legitimate concern. So if governments, worldwide, resorted to such draconian restrictions as lock-downs, and en- forced quarantine; it was because their health ser- vices were being overrun, by a disease which often proved fatal among vulnerable sufferers. But with the threat of death now greatly reduced – as a result, it must be stressed, of the success of the vaccine – the disease itself becomes no more (or less) threatening than other illnesses we are more accustomed to: including seasonal influenza. Nonetheless - and for much the same reason – it would be unwise to lower our guard against COV- ID-19, at this delicate stage. While there is certain- ly no reason to panic at the latest figures- or to rein- troduce emergency restrictions, which served their purpose at earlier stages of the pandemic; especially before the availability of vaccines and boosters - there are still good reasons to remain vigilant. For even if the virus is becoming less deadly, the latest Omicron variant not only spreads though the community more quickly; but it is more likely to re-infect victims, and break down vaccine defences. Therefore it is of crucial importance that vul- nerable categories such as the elderly, or immu- no-compromised individuals, retain the high levels of protection which can only be accorded by regular boosters. In this sense it is positive that those who missed their appointment to receive the second COVID-19 vaccine booster shot, will receive another invitation next week. The reality is that some people (in par- ticular, the elderly) will once again be at risk of hos- pitalisation and death, if the booster intake is low; especially in a situation where the rest of the popu- lation has lowered its guard. The government should facilitate the process by ensuring that applicants for the booster are given appointments as close as possible to where they live; and where necessary, to set up temporary vaccina- tion centres in strategic locations. It simply does not make sense to expect vulnera- ble people to travel long distances, for what might prove to be a life-saving medical treatment. Secondly, amidst the latest surge in cases, the gov- ernment should embark on an education campaign based on courtesy, and common sense. Moreover, all the public health gains made during the pandem- ic should not be simply thrown to the wind. For ex- ample, it is regrettable that sanitizers have been re- moved from a number of establishments: including restaurants, offices, cafes and even supermarkets. The use of sanitizers is not only effective against COVID-19, but also against the spread of other dis- eases: including the seasonal flu, H1N1, colds and other viral- and bacterial-based diseases. In this sense the government should consider ways to en- sure that this positive legacy of the pandemic be- comes part of our new 'normal'. And while people can always use their own san- itizer, having sanitizers readily available in places where people congregate serves as a great incentive for their use. Other positive legacies include avoid- ing unnecessary handshakes, and physical contact; not to mention maintaining social distancing – for example, in the form of seating arrangements - at public events. While one can understand that mask-wearing is uncomfortable in the summer months; and that people are relishing the freedom after months of ob- ligatory mask-wearing, the government should seri- ously consider re-introducing obligatory masks in restricted environments: such as public transport, where people are in very close proximity to each other; even closer than in shops and supermarkets. The reality now is that very few people are wearing masks on buses; and this may well be contributing to the recent spike. Ultimately, we do not have any choice but to live with a virus which keeps constantly evolving. Yet we should always remember that, if we can now do so safely, it is for two reasons: first, because the vac- cines have boosted our defences, making infection less deadly; and secondly, because we have learned, over the past two years, to take extra sanitary pre- cautions. We should not forget the lessons we have learned, in the rush to return to normality. COVID: not a time to let our guard down 11 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday MaltaToday, MediaToday Co. Ltd, Vjal ir-Rihan, San Gwann SGN 9016 MANAGING EDITOR: SAVIOUR BALZAN EXECUTIVE EDITOR: MATTHEW VELLA EDITOR: PAUL COCKS Tel: (356) 21 382741-3, 21 382745-6 Website: www.maltatoday.com.mt E-mail: dailynews@mediatoday.com.mt maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 22 JUNE 2022