We’ve all changed from the pandemic and the majority are in denial. The consequences are too great, and we’re seeing those unfold through social media, because the media are failing to talk about the virus.

The catastrophes that are unfolding are too great for us to ignore and yet that is what we’re doing. It is important to deal with what is unfolding in front of us. To ignore it is to accept that it isn’t happening and it doesn’t mean we won’t get caught out.

Scientist from Kirby Institute

A leading scientist, who leads the biosecurity programme at the Kirby Institute in Sydney, Professor Raina MacIntyre, says we’re wrong to ignore, to think the pandemic is over.

The Covid narrative

The narrative is: ‘Let’s get back to normal, take off your masks, is denial’ she told AAP, the media agency. She believes society is grieving for the lives they had in 2019, before Covid.

“We haven’t come to that stage of just accepting it and saying, ‘OK, this is here to stay and if we want to have a reasonable quality of life and not end up debilitated with chronic diseases, we’ve actually got to change the way we live’.” – Raina MacIntyre

Professor MacIntyre also stated Australia needs to start to address how we design and build housing and how we live in apartments, and how to lessen the risk and make it safer.

Her comments follow her presentation to the AFAC emergency management conference in Adelaide where she outlined important approaches to manage a better future in the COVID-19 era.

The virus is here to stay

She told the conference the virus wasn’t going anywhere, and Australia needed to be smarter about minimising the effects, in both the short and longer term. Waves of epidemics would continue, while it was likely more diseases would pose a threat to health.

Talking about Australia, she said it needed to be more prepared and that it should include developing early warning systems, stockpiling vaccines and other virus-related medications.

That work should include training, to ensure health officials and others are better equipped to work together. Prof MacIntyre also advocated an increase in local manufacturing of protective equipment, vaccines and other medical supplies.

She told AAP that waiting a few years for the position to improve, would result in virtually everyone having been infected and Australia faced a considerable burden from the long-term problems of COVID-19, including heart failure and dementia.

Covid-19 isn't the flu

“This is not a flu or a cold, this is a virus that persists in the body in a number of people after the acute infection,” she said. “So, we can’t keep ignoring it because then we’re going to put a massive strain on the NDIS and we’re going to have a huge tranche of people who are disabled and unable to work.

She continued… “the longer we ignore it and hope for the best, the bigger the burden of chronic diseases that we’re going to have to deal with.”

Dr MacIntyre has a valid point. This isn't something that is just relevant to Australia. The virus affects us all. It's something all countries and governments should be talking about and acting on.

Source: msn.com