COVID-19
COVID-19: The End Game Continuing COVID cases, stagnating vaccination rates, PCR testing, masks, and SafeKeys. When will this all end?
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ost of the world’s experts agree that COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future, but what does that mean for Bermuda? Premier David Burt says, “The old way of life pre-COVID isn’t coming back soon,” and has often referred to not eliminating this infectious disease but to “moving beyond the pandemic.” Some are suggesting that COVID-19 will have to be accepted and dealt with as an HQGHPLF GLVHDVH LQ WKH VDPH ZD\ WKDW ƷX occurs every year on the Island. )RUPHU JRYHUQPHQW FKLHI PHGLFDO RƸFHU Cheryl Peek-Ball says that, historically, the ƷX NLOOV WZR WR WKUHH SHRSOH HYHU\ \HDU here, and that similarly Bermuda could see deaths during what could be described as “COVID season” without any additional restrictions such as lockdowns. 7KH FXUUHQW FKLHI PHGLFDO RƸFHU 'U Ayoola Oyinloye, told Bermuda Health & Beauty magazine “We are living with the worst pandemic in 100 years, and at this time, we cannot predict when it will end. We do know that it will end, but when the exact circumstances needed for this to happen will occur, sadly, is unknown. Many experts feel that this will eventually become endemic and will be similar to seasonal LQƷXHQ]D $Q HQGHPLF GLVHDVH LV OLPLWHG E\ geography, is predictable, and can often be managed. For example, malaria is endemic in parts of sub-Sahara Africa. The vaccine is WKH PRVW HƵHFWLYH PHDQV RI UHGXFLQJ WKH spread of the coronavirus and living with this pandemic.” Kim Wilson, minister for health has stated that, unfortunately, it looks like COVID-19 will be a permanent problem for the Island. “The science and the evidence suggests that, perhaps, in three years time the pandemic will shift to an epidemic mode, and it may become a seasonal issue, like WKH ƷX %XW LW LV VRPHWKLQJ WKDW ORRNV OLNH regrettably, by all accounts, we are going to 18
have to live with.” Bermuda Health & Beauty magazine also sought the views of experts overseas. Dr. 1HHORƵHU 0RRNKHUMHH LV D SURIHVVRU DW WKH University of Manitoba in the Department of Internal Medicine and Immunology and the Canadian Institutes Health Research Sex and Gender Science Chair in Respiratory Health. She also says that it is unlikely that COVID will be eradicated soon, and that in places with high vaccination rates, like Canada and Bermuda, the disease could move to an endemic phase, while a high disease burden will remain elsewhere in the world. “In countries like Canada, where there are relatively high vaccination rates, and people are – for the most part – following public health protocols and restrictions, I can see it becoming endemic sometime in 2022. That would also hold true for Bermuda.” 'U 0RRNKHUMHH VD\V GHƶQLQJ ZKDW LV endemic and pandemic can be tricky. The other caveat she gives with COVID becoming endemic is “as long as we suddenly don’t see a highly virulent form of the virus. With some of the variants, like the Delta, it seems like the vaccines are working well.” The immunologist says that, going forward, people who have had COVID but not had the vaccine need to be wary. “Without the vaccine, the natural immunity people get from COVID comes down pretty fast. The long-term memory is much less in individuals who have had an infection. The vaccines are designed as such that the body develops memory. The ability RI WKH LPPXQH V\VWHP WR ƶJKW WKH YLUXV is much more enhanced than someone who has not had the vaccine but has had COVID. They will have some immunity, but studies have shown that natural immunity decreases rapidly after infection. It is not the same at all as getting vaccinated.” Dr. Mookherjee adds that it might become a normal way of life with people
getting booster shots every year or two, OLNH SHRSOH KDYH WR GR IRU LQƷXHQ]D ţ7KH ERRVWHU VKRW ZLWK WKH 3ƶ]HU YDFFLQH VHHPV to be working very well. The vaccines DSSHDU WR EH KLJKO\ HƵHFWLYH LQ SURWHFWLQJ against severe disease, hospitalisation, and death.” She adds that scientists are constantly tweaking the vaccine, as ZLWK ƷX VWUDLQV WR PDNH LW DV HƵHFWLYH DV possible against whatever variant might be dominant. The immunologist says it is likely that people will still have to wear their masks, keep social distancing, and other health protocols for the foreseeable future. “We will still have to do simple things like wearing a mask while travelling, wearing a mask indoors – these types of public health measures will continue for a while.” She explains that part of the problem is the low vaccination rate in many countries, and “pathogens don’t respect borders. Unless there is a certain equity in vaccination globally, these kind of public health measures along with vaccination are the best way to control infection rate.” Dr. Aaron White is the Jarislowsky chair in biotechnology at the Vaccine and Health & Beauty Winter 2021/22
