Opinion | Fear and uncertainty about Omicron variants-The New York Times

2021-12-01 08:25:12 By : Mr. Andy Yang

Readers discuss travel bans, globalization, and "variants of goodwill."

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Re-"new variants provoke fear of frustration; travel bans rise" (front page, November 27):

News-a new variant from Africa-proves once again that no place can get out of trouble until the world is coping with this pandemic, no matter how well that place seems to cope.

There is really only one way to do this, and we all know what it is. It starts with vaccines and flexible methods, uses and respects science, and ends when the whole world understands this fact and takes action.

This also means that those who oppose globalization ideologically and use this ideology to get political points are part of the problem. Without international cooperation, coordination and communication, we will face more of the same situation.

The world is global, and there is no way to put that elf back into the bottle. Therefore, all this ugly nationalism is sad.

Unless all international travel is stopped, banning flights from a few or a few countries will not prevent the spread of Omicron variants.

It is meaningless that when government leaders sit down and think about and hesitate about the flight restrictions they may impose, a vaccination certificate and a rapid Covid-19 test negative are not a prerequisite for boarding an international or domestic flight.

Given that the threat of Covid-19 is greater than the threat of international terrorists, passengers should be checked whether they are carrying Covid and full-size shampoo bottles.

It is maddening to watch the unspeakable harm caused by anti-vaccine people. But it is even more frustrating to see government leaders who think they are smart thinking about the wrong solution.

Although I am not an epidemiologist, in my opinion, Covid will appear at least in the next ten years, although it is controlled to a certain extent, it may need to be vaccinated every year. Therefore, we may expect more variants after Omicron.

Unless we find that Omicron or its successor is indeed more dangerous, I am surprised by the panic that the government and the stock market are showing.

On the contrary, let us hope that this strain is sensitive to our vaccine, and perhaps these rejecters will eventually see the light and join the rest of us.

One thing I did see was that Republicans might blame President Biden!

A year ago, we were in the midst of "six feet of goodness" because we struggled to find and provide goodness amid the challenges of the new epidemic. Today, as we travel through this ever-changing virus, we need to continue to pay attention to new variants of goodwill.

Provide boosters for the elderly nearby. Volunteer in local schools, pantry, homeless shelters, or other places where illness and isolation have doubled the need for assistance. Contact the local school board members to thank them for their thoughtful decisions regarding masks, isolation and vaccination. Continue to use accurate facts and a calm and rational voice to resolve those who question your scientific practice.

Welcome new virus variants with your own kind variants, and keep your kindness to move on.

Barb Duster Friedhoff Wooster, Ohio