COVID took its toll on humanity in many ways.  Firstly, there is the obvious loss of life and associated grief.  There is also the overall economic cost and loss of many of the rights that human beings today expect.  During lockdowns, over which there was no choice, the human population was inundated with stories of the doom, gloom, and death that the virus would bring and that, post- COVID, we could all expect a ‘new normal’.  That promise, rather than bringing hope also brought trepidation and panic.

Any alternative opinions or arguments were not only suppressed but cancelled as almost one and all followed the rules of an unelected body.  Commonly accepted pharmaceutical practice and clinical trials regarding vaccines were ignored.  Governments exercised almost draconian autonomy and the world, with this unprecedented imposition of order, had its first total experience of that Orwellian prediction of absolute global political power.

Today, almost 4 years’ on, and now that it’s officially ‘over’, people and governments are beginning to ask questions and make inquiries into the pandemic to ‘learn from the experience’…but will we really learn in the aftermath and will the real story be told?

A Reminder

COVID started rather innocuously in late 2019.  Initially called the Chinese Virus there were some associated outbreaks of xenophobia.   COVID then quickly spread around the globe and with the rapid rise in deaths WHO declared a pandemic on 11 March 2020.

The pandemic was officially ‘over’ on 5 May 2023 after several ‘waves’ and variants.   Based on the death rate which fell dramatically in March 2022 it took almost a year to make the decision.  In those two years between ’20 and ’22 just over 6 million people, died, and in the last 18 months or so it’s been 800,000 which is on a par with hunger.

During those difficult years there were lockdowns, curfews, and both work and travel restrictions in mankind’s efforts to contain and control the virus and develop ‘herd immunity’.  Some countries did their own thing, like Sweden, while others went for extended lockdowns and others watched on, often in amazement.

Mankind was fed with the hope that a new vaccine would be developed to save humankind.  These hopes were sold eloquently, methodically, and systematically.  Despite initial speculation that it would take 18 months to develop it only took 9 and by the end of 2020 not one but several were in use.  And despite the promises of ‘choice’, vaccination became mandatory for all, for travel and, for some, maintaining employment.  The vast majority went with the flow.  A few staunch anti-vaxxers and those with a contrary view were ostracised and branded as voices of unreasonableness and bearers of false news.  Alternative medication was branded a nonsense.

WHO(se) decisions

The World Health Organisation decided after a few months of deliberation that there was a pandemic.  Prophets of doom quickly forecast in the early days that as many as 2.5 billion people would be infected within 45 days and 52.9 million of us would die.  COVID was quickly likened to the Spanish flu of 1918.  Even now there are hearkens back to those early days of COVID to remind us of how things may have been but weren’t.

WHO determined the pandemic and governments accepted the decision.  The rules were also determined and while many toed the line, others didn’t.  Some governments retained some semblance of independence.

Mandatory mask wearing, lockdowns, working from home, social distancing and travel bans quickly became the much talked about “new normal”.  Some countries were slower than others in adopting these measures, but the imposition of draconian measures eventually took place globally.  COVID ran its course and eventually normality returned despite being newer than before.  And as with anything new it came with a cost, not only in terms of cost but at the expense of the previous normality and freedoms.

The use of vaccines, although new and unproven against normal clinical protocols were also quickly endorsed by WHO under an “emergency ruling.”  Vaccine manufacturers then quickly appealed to government health agencies to allow use under similar ‘emergency’ rules.  The vaccinations with legitimised vaccines and full governmental support, commenced.  The entire world then quickly jumped on the bandwagon of vaccinations for all, and all for free.

Costs and Loss

“There’s no such thing as a free lunch” goes the saying.  ‘Worldometer’ shows around 13.6 billion vaccinations have been administered to around 71% of the world’s population over the past few years.  This amounts to a not inconsiderable sum of around US$1.6 trillion in vaccine doses alone which, in turn is 73% of the global military budgets for 2022.

In terms of each COVID death this is equates to around US$238k/death.  The cost of a ‘saved life’ was estimated at almost US$250 million after an Australian lockdown in ’22, a million times greater.  “Cost of life” is an emotive subject but is used in determining the cost of safety measures to protect life.  A cursory and comparative view of some internet figures indicates that COVID has cost a lot and, apart from that strange war about WMD in Iraq, seems significantly disproportionate to the percentage of overall population loss:

COVID hasn’t just been about the population loss though.  There have been other losses too.  There has been the loss of the right to choose to be vaccinated or not, loss of freedom of speech and access to alternate views, loss of right to travel, loss of employment and perhaps the loss of being allowed to think for oneself.

For those with power and influence they have controlled the politicians who chanted the same mantra of ‘stay safe’, ‘protect others’, ‘we’re guided by science’, and ‘trust the science’.  Politicians despite any vague semblance of a scientific or medical background were quickly cajoled into a singular way of thinking.  Politicians lost the possible ability to listen to both sides of any argument and, despite no knowledge or experience, went with the global flow and adopted rules that seemed to some to be made up as they went along.  Any rational and logical decision-making ability was lost but, as one British politician said, politicians must be seen to be doing something, even if it’s anything.

Science & Statistics or Propaganda

During the lockdowns the masses were fed science and statistics be politicians and a sudden plethora of ‘experts’.  Any dissenting views were promptly pooh-poohed and, just as quickly, swept under the carpet as almost all and sundry toed a global party line.  This party line was supported by a one-sided science and a glut of statistics justifying the imposition of effective martial law and mandatory PPE.

Did people understand the statistics?  Perhaps not, but as Benjamin Disraeli recognised there are “Lies, damn lies and statistics” and if an argument is weak, it can be reinforced with a few statistics.  Similarly, and as the infamous Joseph Goebbels advocated, “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it.”.  He also knew that people had to be shielded from the truth and that any dissent had to be dealt with…” the truth is the greatest enemy of the State”.

Any other side of science was subdued, or cancelled, and branded “fear mongering”.  People in lockdown were fed one side of a story and the statistics were used to show the problem was a problem, which it was, but the use of semi-logarithmic graphs and other graphical presentations made it look all the more bleak.  “Worldometer” had all the figures but, as with any argument, it’s how the facts are presented.  The statistics ‘proved’ that the lockdowns were justifiable and those in positions of control and power we’re doing the right thing…but were they?

Retribution or Aftermath

COVID is now slipping away from the limelight or rather being newsworthy.  It will remain as a source of grief for some and will be a fading memory for others.  In its aftermath people are now asking why or how it happened, were the costs worth it and, in true human nature, who was at fault but yet others still advocate the threat.

Inquiries are being instigated around the world but will we, the people, ever be told the truth?  Politicians are being quizzed as to how their decisions were made, were they appropriate in hindsight, was there favouritism in awarding PPE contracts, and even partying while others were locked down.  It’s not only about the about the political antics and possible errors of judgement but criminal carryings on and the retribution that may follow.  Perhaps the world’s biggest loss has been the loss of ‘trust’ and absence of ‘transparency’.

The forecasts that frightened the world’s population were seriously and obviously wrong.  However, and despite the ongoing inquiries, which may or may not turn out to be a sham, we now hear that ‘excessive death ratios’ justified decisions.  Are statistical efforts again being made to substantiate the decisions of WHO and whosoever to show that where were no mistakes?   Is a story being manufactured as big data is manipulated?  Will the inquiries address such questions? Will the aftermath be about learning or just covering up and rewriting history because power is at stake?  Only time may well tell…