How are countries coming to terms with the pandemic?

However, many scientists warn that “exit” strategies from the pandemic appear to be premature.

The emergence of more transmissible variants shows that even developed countries with ample vaccine supplies are at risk. A typical example is Australia, which has had to close its borders, realizing that it cannot stop the disease.

So instead of gradually narrowing the routes, many governments are beginning to accept that social distancing and travel restrictions are necessary during this period. They are encouraging people to change their perspective on the pandemic, trying to avoid getting too sick or dying, because Covid-19 infection at this time is inevitable. Even countries that once had the ambition of “zero Covid-19 cases” (zero-Covid) are having to rethink this.

changing perspectives on the pandemic

Dale Fisher, Professor of Medicine at the National University of Singapore and head of the National Committee for Infectious Disease Prevention and Control, said: “People need to be warned that there will be more cases. That is part of the plan, we have to accept it.”

Singaporeans have been closely monitoring the situation of new Covid-19 cases in the country. As the total number of infections rose to double digits, public opinion in this Southeast Asian island nation showed unease. Even with the border closure, they felt “powerless” because the most diligent efforts were not enough to prevent the disease.

“Our people are fighting to the point of exhaustion,” a group of Singaporean politicians wrote in a commentary in the Straits Times in June. “Everyone is asking: When and how will this pandemic end?”

The Singapore government has announced plans to gradually ease restrictions, shifting its approach to the pandemic by shifting its strategy. Instead of tracking new cases, it will focus on severe cases that require intensive care or ventilators. This measure is being tested. To date, Singapore has vaccinated 49% of its population with two doses of the vaccine.

Israel is also a country that has shifted its focus to serious cases. Now, Israel is facing a surge in new cases, forcing the government to reimpose mask-wearing regulations in enclosed spaces.

“It’s necessary but also a nuisance,” Danny Levy, 56, an Israeli civil servant waiting to see a movie at a cinema complex in Jerusalem, told the New York Times. Levy said he would wear a mask in the theater, but he was frustrated that the restrictions were reimposed because of poor monitoring and testing of tourists, leading to the spread of new virus variants.

Accept long-term social distancing

Epidemiologist Michael Baker of the University of Otago in New Zealand said countries taking “shortcuts” to reopening were “gambling the lives” of unvaccinated people.

New Zealanders seem to have accepted the possibility of having to live with social distancing measures for a long time. A recent survey of 1,800 people found that 90% of them do not expect life to return to normal quickly, perhaps in part because many questions about Covid-19 remain unanswered.

Scientists say they still don’t understand everything about the virus, with hundreds and thousands of patients still struggling with lingering symptoms. They say Covid-19 shouldn’t be treated like the flu because it’s much more dangerous. Scientists also can’t say for sure how long vaccines provide immunity and how much antibody protection they provide against each virus variant.

In the United States, states like California and New York with high vaccination rates still require unvaccinated people to wear masks, while states with low vaccination rates, such as Alabama and Idaho, do not require them. Some schools require students to be vaccinated while some states prohibit public institutions from enforcing these rules.

In Australia, some politicians say the country needs to choose between maintaining social distancing rules for a long time or living with the pandemic. They say Australia should abandon the policy of "zero Covid-19 cases".

Gladys Berejiklian, the Premier of Australia's New South Wales state, immediately "shut down" the proposal, saying: "No state or country in the world can deal with the Delta variant, while my country's vaccination rates are so low." In fact, only 11% of the population over the age of 16 in Australia has received two doses of vaccine.

"Let go" of restrictions, learn to live with COVID-19

In places with high Covid-19 vaccination rates, notably Europe, countries have bet on vaccination programs as a way to get them out of the pandemic. The goal for countries now is to keep deaths and hospitalizations low.

Recently, Germans who have been fully vaccinated with two doses of the vaccine can go to restaurants without showing a negative test result. They are also free to meet privately and travel without having to quarantine for 14 days.

In Italy, mask-wearing is now only mandatory in shops and crowded spaces, but many people continue to wear them. “My daughters tell me I don’t need a mask because I’m vaccinated, but I’m used to it,” said Marina Castro, a resident of Rome.

The UK has vaccinated almost all citizens in the most at-risk groups. From July 19, the UK began removing epidemic prevention restrictions despite the number of Delta variant cases continuing to rise.

Many newspapers in the country called it “Freedom Day,” when bars, restaurants, and nightclubs were allowed to open. Social distancing and mask-wearing regulations were also relaxed. People were allowed to dine outdoors, sunbathe, and gather in groups.

However, the UK government continues to call on people to take responsibility for staying safe. UK Health Secretary Sajid Javid said the move showed the country was learning to live with Covid-19.

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