The COVID-19 epidemic has quickened pace as lock down economies reopen, while others continue trading as if the virus does not exist. We can’t blame science this time, if we ever could. We are witnessing what happens when we ignore medical science. Although it seems we may have to. Meanwhile, COVID-19 cases surge as economies open again.
Economic Activity and COVID-19 Cases Surge Together
The surge in Europe was quite dramatic, as the sub continent started relaxing after flattening the curve. Asia began a month earlier after it relaxed control. North America followed the general pattern. This all makes sense in terms of social distancing. The more people around us, the higher our statistical risk of infection.
CNN says these spikes in case numbers reflect how fragile our situation is. Germany, South Korea and China contained their COVID-19 case surge, but are now on the back foot again. Whereas Brazil, Mexico and India never flattened their curves and continue to ramp up to an extent we hoped would never see.
Are We Entering a New Era of Repeated COVID-19 Surges?
Scientists have warned the coronavirus will be with us in cycles for a long time. John Hopkins University statistics show what happens when we drop our guard. The problem is we have to, to protect our money-based economy.
The situation we find ourselves in suggests it’s even more important than ever to apply personal infection control. Governments are powerless to prevent us becoming ill, especially in free societies where individual human rights rule. Yet despite all this, we can only manage the situation when we pull together.
We are unsure what this means in practice. We make batteries, not public policy. However we could say we are entering a new phase when COVID-19 cases surge repeatedly. This might become a new era in which old ways no longer work as they should.
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