COVID-19: THE MEANING OF FREEDOM

Saw the photo of this T-shirt on Facebook this morning.  "It's just your freedom gone forever."  This was amongst other posts in support of the various demonstrations around the world for an end to COVID-19 controls and restrictions.

Now I'm all for freedom.  The fact I can write this blog and criticise the Government is important.

But COVID-19 is no hoax. Here are the risks.  Six significant risks, that could affect anybody catching the disease, young or old. 

If someone wants to catch a disease that can often put them out of action for over a week, or longer if they have to go to hospital, that's up to them. 

Hospital treatments have improved, but you can still die. 

Strokes too, because the virus causes microclots in the blood. 

With the real risk of LongCOVID, which comes in two forms, and affects all ages in much larger numbers than die:

• Long-term lethargy
• Pain and other problems where the virus has attacked lungs and other organs, such as liver, kidneys, digestive system, brain and heart.

It's rather like smoking.   If someone wants to suffer a long and painful death from lung cancer, as my gran did, that's up to them. 

At least I can see when someone is smoking and avoid their smoke.

But there are two major differences with COVID-19:

1. People are infectious for some days before they exhibit symptoms.  We can't see if someone is infectious. 
2. Smokers contribute to the cost of healthcare through the duty they pay on tobacco.  Someone expecting treatment for COVID-19 on the NHS (or foreign healthcare system) is paying nothing.

Restrictions are there to minimise contact between people infectious and those who might catch it and suffer.  That and minimise the strain on the health service of having to cater for sufferers.

Peope also say "With freedom comes responsibility".

We need to play by the virus's rules to take precautions, regardless of whether the Government makes them compulsory.   Only then can we get back to any kind of 'normality'

No restrictions mean health services overrun as we are nowhere near 'herd immunity' which would take years at any reasonable infection rate.

So to anyone thinking we shouldn't play by the virus's rules:

• Think of yourself and those six risks, especially LongCOVID
• Think of what can happen to others if you become infectious.  Family, friends, strangers.  All ages.  
• Think of the detrimental impact on health services, and the ability to provide care for other health conditions.
• Think of the medical staff who have been dying to look after people, the strain they have already been under, and how they feel about the future
• Think of the freedom of being able to do all those activities you would like to be doing

By adopting precautions we can defeat the virus.  Not by letting it run rampant.  That would just cause death and economic destruction far in excess of what we have seen in 2020, either from the virus or from adopting the restrictions.  Lives and livelihoods ruined.

On pain of death

So please take sensible precautions if you want freedom:

• Social distancing
• Masks or face coverings to reduce the chances of infecting others if you become infectious (they also give some protection for yourself)
• Plus hand hygiene - washing hands and being careful what you touch

Thank you.