The Oxford Learners’ Dictionary defines chaos in five words – a complete lack of order.
Well, a complete lack of order defines global Covid-19 responses. The scrambled reactions to the Omicron surge do not leave many world governments looking good.
I don’t know what signals your governments sent you when the Omicron variant emerged. In Québec our premier earned our family’s nickname of Barney Rubble in more than appearance. He suggested that:
Any parallels with your jurisdiction?
There is no evidence that in this modern world, travel bans work to reduce infection rates. Bans may delay the arrival of Alpha, Delta or Omicron but only if infection is not already present in the community. However, the next character of the Greek alphabet will arrive, but it may be a little late for its date.
In Canada, international travel and borders are a Federal government jurisdiction. New bans and advisories were, in my mind, a political decision forced on the Feds by the provinces. The Feds should have resisted! But then Ontario and Québec would have put all the blame on Ottawa for the Omicron surge if they had not imposed the new travel restrictions.
Smart travellers buy health insurance. Insurance companies increase premiums based on risk analysis. Consider increased costs for travel and for travel insurance, the requirement for vaccine passports, testing requirements / costs, forced extended stays, and “other country” chaos. All are already effective dampers on travel.
Will ask if I am so smart, why not come up with a plan. Well, that is a bit like asking a music critic if he could sing better than an opera star on a bad night. Unfair! The critic hasn’t had years of training and practice but can still judge a bad performance.
So, I am handicapped. I don’t have access to the same information and armies of minions to develop a plan. However, I may also have an advantage. I don’t need to think about re-election. So my next issue – a plan to tackle the complete lack of order.
So that my Ontario readers don’t feel left out! The Waters clan has a nickname for Doug Ford. Bonhomme Carnival! Too bad he isn’t mayor of Québec City. It would help save money on costumes.
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