Pandemic: Under collapse and the worst is yet to come

The new wave of pandemic, the fourth in a row, came more violently despite the government's autumn predictions of a return to «normality». Predictably, the arrival of winter led to an increase in cases and other «hard» indicators, namely deaths and hospitalizations. They have now even surpassed the figures recorded a year ago at the start of the second pandemic wave. After almost two years of pandemic, and given the experience and the many resources we now have, things should be better this year. However, All this time has been wasted without major breakthroughs, the NHS has been left in a very poor state, and health officials' inhibition is making things even more difficult.

Furthermore, instead of taking adequate measures, the government chose to support the narrative of a pandemic of unvaccinated people, resulting in an increase in epidemiological indicators instead of being restricted from August onwards. Disease of the unvaccinated, in the same way that it was formerly a disease of the old, then of the young, and recently of children. Characterization following the the need to find scapegoats to justify every failure and to move forward with political planning.

The aid that did not come

Adequate measures, of course, were not taken to strengthen the NHS, which, according to government statements, would lead to an unnecessarily luxurious health system, which after the pandemic -which was coming to an end- would be useless! This was said just a few days before the NHS was on the verge of collapse where it is today. Where the hospitals of Northern Greece and especially Thessaloniki, have reached occupancy levels not only in ICUs but also in covid beds. A similar situation prevails in the hospitals of Thessaly where the ICUs are almost exhausted, while in Attica the pressure is enormous, with large hospitals such as Attikon and Gennimatas having patients in cots in the corridors. At the same time, PDEDN complains that under these circumstances, a forced selection of cases is made. However, the appointment of private doctors will take place from Monday and we see when the situation will be even more difficult.

At the same time, no talk of reinstating those on parole. Once again, absolutely necessary measures will be taken, without any real planning, while there should normally have been an emergency mechanism since last year aimed at the immediate inclusion of even private doctors where there is a need. The government should have already taken measures to increase the resilience of the NHS while there was still time to do so. Just as, there should have been corresponding measures to reduce dispersal in all public places so that, almost two years on, there is no longer any debate that if some investment had been made in public transport, 3,000 lives would have been saved.

Persistence in authoritarianism

On the contrary, the government promotes relaxation to «balance society and the economy», instead of focusing on vigilance of society to comply with health protocols, with tests for all - vaccinated and unvaccinated. It promotes vaccination and the third dose as a panacea but also as a condition for downgrading all other measures, instead of targeted promotion of the vaccine to those who are vulnerable and in immediate need. It avoids any discussion on strengthening critical infrastructure, where there is a proven problem, investing in an imposed normality where nothing is closed and no measures are taken. Essentially, the government is not interested in fighting the pandemic with all available means, instead it insists on authoritarianism through the state of emergency. Which costs not only lives but also precious time. What happens when all the ICUs are full? How long will it take for the indicators to drop?; The current policy that invests in division and authoritarianism, ostensibly as a means of preventing a new lockdown, is the one that paves the way for the next lockdown, in worse terms and with even more authoritarianism.

Concern from the WHO

H. Klooge, WHO Regional Director for Europe, reiterated his concern about the potential pandemic casualties in Europe over the winter, with estimates reaching 500,000 by February.
Then, he stressed that in addition to increasing vaccination, it is necessary for the former to be effective to be combined with the strengthening of primary health care, public health and social distancing measures, in contrast to the relaxation that prevails in many European countries. A voice crying out in the wilderness...

On the back of the fourth wave, Apartheid is set up

The more urgent the need, the more authoritarian the measures. This is the rationale at the core of the government's policy.. Just a week after the new measures came into force, «newer» measures are again being discussed. Journalists, doctors, television personalities, current and former ministers, even constitutionalists, are marching daily in the media, calling for a total blockade and punishment of the unconvinced through «persuasion». The ground is thus being prepared for an ever-increasing authoritarianism and measures that will ultimately affect everyone..

It is typical of the debate on the duration of the green pass where most proposals tend towards six months. Then, once the pass expires, ricochet everywhere. They call for blocking up to and from shops with essentials. Complete derailment. For the time being, the government seems to be possibly oriented towards making open eating places pure (only for vaccinated people), increasing the necessary tests and some restrictions on capacity in supermarkets and retail outlets.

Already, however, the situation after last week's measures is unbearable. The problem is not only the economic coercion of the unvaccinated, with rape tests even to drink coffee. Of particular weight is the constant checking of everything, in restaurants, retail, work - to move one must first undergo many small checks. Which entrenches authoritarian control not just by a government, but within the social body. After all, showing one's identity in the age of social media is enough to find out almost everything, information about one's work, tastes, political beliefs and even social relations.

Similarly in Europe

The rest of Europe is moving at a similar pace, both in terms of pandemics and measures, with the new wave making its appearance in several countries, some of which have particularly high vaccination coverage. Belgium, with 75% vaccination rate and Austria with 62% respectively are facing a significant worsening of the pandemic. At the same time, there is an increasing trend in the Netherlands, France, Germany and Poland, which raises concerns about a difficult winter.

It is worth noting that most of the above-mentioned countries already have restrictive measures for the unvaccinated and compulsory vaccination for some sectors. In fact, some countries, such as Austria, have even introduced new measures providing for full vaccination for the unvaccinated, despite the fact that it is now clear that policies of exclusion and targeting of the unvaccinated and one-dimensional promotion of the vaccine at the expense of all other measures have failed in different countries, with different levels of vaccination coverage. While, correspondingly, policies of horizontal restrictions and locking-in are starting to come back to the fore, as in the case of the Netherlands, where the advisory committee proposes a partial locking-in as, despite the fact that vaccination coverage reaches 85%, the health system is under considerable pressure.

Measures of «persuasion»

He even outdid the government with the «imaginative» measures proposed by the constitutional scholar, Mr. Alivizatos, who considered the extension of compulsory compliance in the public and private sectors, combined with a series of escalating measures and sanctions for those who do not comply, to be important. Features, considers as persuasive measures the recruitment of only vaccinated persons in the public (APSEP) and private sectors and the exclusion of unvaccinated persons from social activities. While also proposing escalating sanctions for those unvaccinated who are already working, such as working from home, administrative fines, promotions only for vaccinated people, suspension of work and eventually dismissal. Besides, he said, given the unemployment situation, finding a job is an important incentive and could, through fast-track seminars, also serve to fill the positions of those laid off in sectors where suspensions and layoffs could be crippling. He even went a step further by proposing that not only the issuing but also the use of false certificates should be made a specific criminal offence. All of the above are considered constitutionally sound but also consistent with a «healthy» liberalism. So much persuasion and liberalism to be lacking...

By Jason Kostopoulos