Covid-19: Apocalypse Now?

We live in a time of disappointment. 

Disappointment at so-called political leaders who refuse to take the hard decisions to deal with the Covid-19 pandemic that has caused so much death, economic destruction, and social dislocation. So-called political leaders who take decisions and assume postures in order to curry favor with certain groups of voters rather than tackle the threat of the pandemic head-on.

Thanks to inconsistent messaging and political posturing, and despite the technological advances, many voters have come to question the science and the need to get vaccinated at this crucial time.

This is due to several factors. 

The rise of extreme right-wing populism and messaging has led many to question the veracity of government statements and policies. They base themselves on the vision of a founder of modern political conservatism, former U.S. President Ronald Reagan who used to say that government was the problem and not the solution. Indeed, today’s populism derides any expertise as being elitist and against “the people”. At the same time, it makes science a main target given its opposition to the theological tenets of the right-wing Christianity that is at the crux of their political beliefs. 

Those who subscribe to this vision posit that their rights supersede any responsibility towards society. They believe that their right to not take the vaccine, wear masks, or avoid social gatherings is fundamental to democracy as they know it. This permeates their voting patterns, and they are a powerful force, since social conservatives are the base of today’s American Republican Party and Canada’s Conservative Party.

Recently, we have seen Florida Governor Ron DeSantis sign a law that prohibits schools from requiring students to wear masks despite the exponential rise in Covid-19 cases in Florida and other states where such legislation has passed since the Delta strain appeared. 

Just last month, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed an order that bans local officials from even mandating the wearing of face masks. That same order also blocks local officials from enforcing capacity restrictions for local businesses.

Interestingly, a centrist government now governs the U.S. at a national level, but it continues to shy away from showing a political willingness to show leadership to strongly manage the pandemic and proactively influence or even force state governments to take the necessary steps to reduce the possibilities of contagion.

During the current election campaign in Canada, we have seen U.S. style protest groups vocally oppose and viscously insult Prime Minister Trudeau and his government’s strong anti-COVID policies. As well, many have physically attacked or verbally abused health care workers and blockaded hospitals, putting staff and patients at high risk. Encouraged by the U.S. right wing fanatics, these protestors, although a minority, may be a harbinger of things to come if extreme right-wing populism grows in Canada.

Finally, let’s discuss youth who get their news from a social media that is rife with falsehoods and conspiracy theories. Younger people usually have a sense of invincibility which, during a pandemic, makes many reluctant to be vaccinated, wear masks, or avoid social gatherings. One has only to look at the many unmasked youths at beaches around the world during spring break or at sporting events to appreciate this reality.

Their susceptibility to the noise about Covid-19 on social media is high, as is their vulnerability to the negative consequences of listening to news sources, opinion makers and influencers peddling unvetted information about the virus. 

Thus, generational and political biases coupled with the fight between rights and responsibilities has fueled debate despite the clarity of the science. All while many national governments, after one and half years of pandemic management, still appear hesitant and reluctant to take strong actions to mitigate the spread of the virus. 

I said at the outset that we live in a time of disappointment. 

This disappointment has now melded with Covid-19 fatigue. 

This is compounded by inaction or erroneous policies by feckless leaders who prefer to posture and follow the herd for their own narrow political interests rather than lead with the strength and conviction one would expect.

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Edition: Estefanía Cardeña