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It is great to have some thoughtful coverage of #ZeroCovid on the BBC, including quotes from @devisridhar and @dgurdasani1 - thank you @NickTriggle
Unfortunately the article contains a series of misunderstandings about #ZeroCovid
/Thread https://twitter.com/NickTriggle/status/1361580872525299712
Unfortunately the article contains a series of misunderstandings about #ZeroCovid
/Thread https://twitter.com/NickTriggle/status/1361580872525299712
First, that elimination within borders - "getting rid of it" - is not possible if numbers have been high in a country. Not true.
The UK was close to elimination last summer, but then we had foreign travel. Scotland made it, but was reseeded from England. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18931916.scotland-close-eliminating-coronavirus-travel-brought-new-strains/
The UK was close to elimination last summer, but then we had foreign travel. Scotland made it, but was reseeded from England. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/18931916.scotland-close-eliminating-coronavirus-travel-brought-new-strains/
2nd, that elimination is incompatible with our culture and democracy. Not true. It has been achieved in Aus and NZ
3rd, that virus mutation in Covid weighs against elimination. Not true. The risk of virus mutation hugely increases the risk of the "learn to live with it" strategy
3rd, that virus mutation in Covid weighs against elimination. Not true. The risk of virus mutation hugely increases the risk of the "learn to live with it" strategy
But overall the article misses the key potential scandal here.
Which is that, despite the scientific disagreements, the UK public has not been offered a choice.
The choice between two strategies: a) "learn to live with it" and b) "get rid of it".
Which is that, despite the scientific disagreements, the UK public has not been offered a choice.
The choice between two strategies: a) "learn to live with it" and b) "get rid of it".
Yes, there may be some greater costs in the short run to "get rid of it". But after that, we could lift all domestic restrictions, like in NZ and Aus
Or we cld stick with "learn to live with it", and the recurrent lockdowns and on/off restrictions that we are living through now
Or we cld stick with "learn to live with it", and the recurrent lockdowns and on/off restrictions that we are living through now
Why has the public not been asked which it prefers out of these two options?
Why isn't there a huge public debate?
Which would YOU prefer?
Why isn't there a huge public debate?
Which would YOU prefer?
