Remember COVID?  It used to be everywhere both geographically and nationally speaking.  The media was awash with it.  Those confined to the interminable monotony of lockdown were, some say, brainwashed into both fearing and loathing the COVID-19 virus, and its mutant derivatives.

Remember the road sterilisations, mandatory hand sprays on entering establishments, myriads of articles on the new-normal, fears that restaurants and bars would no longer be places of social refuge and sporting venues would, like gladiatorial arenas, be things of the dim and distant past.  Lockdown orchestras and operettas were a short-term fad in Italy.  A walk in the park became front page news as governments advised that human beings need to get out and exercise.

Remember that parties and gatherings were banned.  Governments then allowed some gatherings in order to allow we social animals to interact, but numbers were governed based upon apparent arbitrary whims allegedly based upon unknown, undeclared and undisclosed ‘science’.  However, for some parties, partying carried on, remember Downing Street’s Partygate.  Orwell had it sussed when he wrote that “some are more equal than others”, at least until they are found out.

Remember the advice that if we ‘flattened the curve’ of rising infections and COVID attributed deaths, we would develop our natural herd immunity.  Some countries adopted a wait and see approach, some were just careful and carried on as normal, and some implemented a war footing with full NBC protective suits.  Others resorted to on-the-spot fines to add economic insult to their economically insulted populations.  Consistency of approach was far from consistent (and it still is).

For some countries they tried a bit of everything in an effort to comply with ‘global’ health advice and pressure from economically advantaged countries who feared COVID as if it were the Plague.  Foreign or even domestic nationals were feared who as much as coughed, sneezed or sniffled.  Countries were backlisted, or rather red listed, by apparently xenophobic zealots based upon COVID statistics based upon perhaps gut feel and plain prejudice rather than any known scientific rationale.

COVID was ignored by countries whose economy could collapse and, in the relatively short fullness of time, they don’t seem to have been wrong.  The early gloom and doom predictions about COVID were exaggerated and certainly incorrect.  Countries that ignored COVID but practised mask wearing and self-isolating also adopted a smidgeon of social but inconsistent distancing which, when coupled with a smattering of elbow-bumping and fist-pumping have “got away with it’’, so to say.

But now?  COVID’s not front-page news anymore unless some aging Hollywood star, retired politician or reneging tennis player is affected or infected.  The once frequent daily broadcasts covering the cut and thrust decisions of governments and health agencies with incessant breaking news reports on the relentless assaults on our mutating viral foe and an ever-changing viral battlefield have, thank goodness, ceased.  Has the novelty of the novel coronavirus worn off?

The lockdowns, apart from parts of China, have also gone.  Lockdowns, be they down-under or anywhere didn’t work.  Post lockdown declarations of victory were premature…COVID quickly counterattacked.  Those with confidence in their convictions then convicted people to yet more confinement, and without trial!  Mask wearing is compulsory, sometimes.  The PCRs are on their way out as are industry scale COVID testing facilities.  The once decried quicker test is accepted and travel has opened.  The once draconian rules for the hoi polloi are now more relaxed.

We were once advised that vaccination was to be the subject of freedom of choice.  There are ‘recommendations’ to be double, no, triple-dosed to be ‘’safe’’.  However, at least in Italy those who aren’t jabbed are now to be fined…the cost of freedom of choice seems to have come at a fiscal fine.

A mere two years ago we heard the calls to flatten the curve and achieve ‘herd immunity’.  And now, despite the WHO declared pandemic which didn’t pan out to be what was predicted, we appear to have come to some normality.  However…is our collective immunity improving or is it that those in power have instilled and installed that most sought-after political expedient – ‘herd mentality’?

Bio:

Malcolm Peart is an UK Chartered Engineer & Chartered Geologist with over thirty-five years’ international experience in multicultural environments on large multidisciplinary infrastructure projects including rail, metro, hydro, airports, tunnels, roads and bridges. Skills include project management, contract administration & procurement, and design & construction management skills as Client, Consultant, and Contractor.