The
Devastation is Deeper and Wider than We Know
BY MARCH 21, 2023 4 MINUTE READ
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Three
years ago, Covid-19 struck the world. In the face of a rapidly evolving public
health crisis, governments and institutions implemented policies to mitigate
the spread of the virus. Today, we can look back and see the unintended
consequences of these policies, which have had a lasting impact on public trust
and our society.
Firstly, the healthcare system
experienced significant disruption as a result of the disease but arguably more
so from Covid policies themselves. Medical errors increased in
hospitals due to the constraints on healthcare resources and mandates. Millions of cancer screenings were missed,
potentially causing a future surge in late-stage cancer cases. HIV testing was disrupted, leading to
delayed diagnoses and treatment. Additionally, the pressure to report Covid
deaths led to inaccurate death counts, prompting more
fear and furthering egregious policies.
Many of the Covid models that informed these policies
proved to be flawed or unreliable, further eroding trust in the institutions
that promoted them. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) faced
multiple controversies, including accusations of hiding data, unreliable
data, and tracking millions of Americans’ phone locations.
Additionally, the influence of unions on CDC policy raised
concerns about political interference in public health decisions.
Privacy and censorship concerns
related to Covid policies also loom large. Governments and private companies
used Covid apps to expand surveillance, stop protests, and profit from
user information. Reports of CDC collusion with Big Tech have
prompted multiple hearings on Capitol Hill.
These concerns were exacerbated
by evidence of collusion between the CDC, the White House, and Big Tech
companies to suppress free speech and control the narrative surrounding the
pandemic. The Twitter blacklisting of Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a respected medical
expert, is just one example of how dissenting voices were silenced.
The massive spending on Covid
relief programs also had significant consequences. In Canada, billions were wasted in poorly managed programs.
Similarly, in the United States, billions in aid went to hospitals that
didn’t need the funds, raising questions about the allocation and oversight of
such spending.
One of the most significant
consequences of Covid policies has been the impact on child health and
development. Lockdowns led to a distressing increase in infant abuse and a surge in anxiety among children. Notably, the
restrictions had a devastating impact on teenagers, as well as
causing developmental delays in babies.
The Covid regulations also led to
a rise in child labor worldwide, with millions of additional child marriages predicted as a consequence of the
pandemic. These policies contributed to a significant crisis in child development.
Furthermore, the development of
children was negatively impacted by masks and isolation, as evidenced by issues
stemming from Covid’s social distancing, such as speech and expression difficulties. The incidence of
child abuse increased significantly during lockdown
periods, and the cancellation of sports activities had a severe impact on children. The reporting
of abuse was also diminished by lockdowns, and the
implementation of Covid regulations led to an increase in
cases of child sexual abuse.
The consequences of Covid
regulations on education were equally severe. Learning loss was a significant outcome of
lockdowns, as remote learning proved to be unsatisfactory and even a complete failure. The learning of 1.6 billion children
was disrupted due to Covid regulations, worsening the global learning crisis. Students were
greatly affected by the disastrous impact of lockdowns, leaving them ill-equipped for the future.
Despite evidence showing that immunocompromised children have a low risk of contracting Covid and
that it is uncommon for children to experience Long COVID, the
debate around vaccination and its effectiveness in children continues. The UK
has initiated compensation
payments for vaccine-related injuries, and some
experts advise against children receiving boosters due to potential risks.
Interestingly, interacting with children has been shown to improve Covid outcomes,
suggesting that isolation measures may not have been the most effective
approach. However, vaccination rates for other diseases among children are still declining, raising concerns about future public
health challenges – and loss of trust in health institutions.
The Covid policies and their
aftermath have had far-reaching impacts on our society. People now have lowered
trust in public institutions, raised worries about privacy and freedom of
speech, and the financial ramifications will persist for a long time. As we
face the challenges posed by this pandemic and its policy outcomes, it’s vital to
draw lessons from these missteps so future responses are more balanced, open,
and successful in tackling public health crises without compromising civic
rights and public confidence.
Reprinted from the author’s Substack
Author
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