As we await - nervously - the impact of Omicron, we are relying as we should on the CDC and WHO to determine how dangerous this new variant really is - especially to the vaccinated. The immediate move to shut off air travel with the south of Africa has been widely panned by health officials. The problem with this is that they are looking at the issue as a medical one, yet proposing political solutions.
True, Omicron is probably out of the bag and loose in the Global North. However, it is also most likely more widespread in southern Africa. Ideally, you get a delay to figure out how to fight this - and travel bans DO give you a delay. If there are 100 people in the US with Omicron, that's objectively better than 1,000. The argument health officials make is that travel bans create a false sense of security, and we really need to be testing, tracing, vaccinating and masking.
Well, of course we do. Most people advocating for travel bans would also advocate for testing and tracing, and they are already pushing vaccines.
The reality is - and the CDC and WHO seem oblivious to this obvious fact - that there is a sizable portion of the world who simply will not take any additional measures to stop the spread of Covid. In fact, the people who DO want to stop the spread of Covid have often been held back by health officials. I would like my 17 year old son to get a booster, but he can't because reasons.
The point of public health is to achieve what is possible. Wiping out Covid appears to be impossible, simply because the politics of the virus has warped ideas of public good. Some communities are on board and some aren't. Navigating that landmine of patchwork effectiveness means that ANY delay in the spread of Omicron should be worth it.
UPDATE: Marshall makes the point better, as per usual.
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