COVID-19 'is like the common cold or flu now'- Julio S. Henry
"I applaud the government for doing what they have done so far, but the reality is that we are facing a situation where [COVID-19] it's like the common cold or the flu now," he said on the Thursday, July 16, 2020, edition of Honestly Speaking.
Prepare for COVID-19 before travel
Henry illustrated that in the area of tourism, tourists would need to prepare themselves in a similar way to which they prepare for the flu season before coming to the territory, and the VI can look at re-opening the local tourism industry with protocols along those lines.
"Opening up the borders, just doesn't mean opening up the floodgates for me, it means with a strategic plan looking at areas that really could benefit us," he went on to say.
Mr Henry pointed out that after the 2017 storms in the VI, the territory turned to smaller properties after the closure of large hotels. He said in the COVID-19 era, charter yachts can be used to host tourist and their families which would still allow for self-isolation.
"We can follow the same protocols that some countries are now implementing, we can require 72 hours self-check, you must come with your negative test result, and even when they get here we can still do some quick testing," he said.
Gov't doing great job managing pandemic - Mr Henry
Reiterating previous calls to reopen the tourism industry, he warned the economy can sink and fall flat if tourism is not revived soonest.
"I think right now the government is doing such a great job, we don't have anything to be afraid of, communicate with the people, start having public discussions," Mr Henry noted.
He said public discussions will allow the Fahie administration to hear and understand how the majority of people in the VI are thinking, to be able to formulate policies based on those opinions.
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57 Responses to “COVID-19 'is like the common cold or flu now'- Julio S. Henry ”
It’s difficult to feel sorry for the taxi drivers - they are used to sitting around playing dominos all day and just doing one or two trips and ridiculous prices and ripping off tourists. Even with the ludicrous amounts the Givt is paying them for the free trips around town they think they now have to work too hard. We need to retire the old ones, and let the young ones take over.
Mr. Henry is correct.
People can’t expect borders to remain closed when they’re collecting a salary.
Open the borders with strict protocols and protect the vulnerable.
That’s where money should be spent.
Not on security guards and quarantine as paying for people to be sent home.
People want to work!
The vast majority of people recover from Covid and some
don’t know they even have it.
Hence the falling mortality rate.
Positivity numbers rising,
Mortality rate falling.
Test, test, test!
One of the main reason the VI and other regional countries thus far have had relatively low numbers is because they shut their borders bram tight early; they batten down the hatches. Should they recklessly squander that effort? No.
14M positive cases. Currently, there are no reliable treatments, no cure nor vaccines. It is neither the common cold nor the flu. Clearly, no one wants to contract neither of these three diseases. However, if we had to choose one, I’m confident that we would avoid COVID-19 like the plague. Rahm Emanuel, former Mayor of Chicago and President Obama Chief of Staff, says, “Never allow a crisis to go to waste.”
Well, Premier Andrew A. Fahie and VIP government acted early and swiftly. The quick action taken to close the border, along with other unpopular but necessary actions, kept the numbers relatively low, ie, 8 positives and 1 death; no current active cases. This action paid big dividends, for the VI has a small healthcare system and a moderate to major outbreak would have been devastating for the territory and the people. Government led, and the people responded enduring many sacrifices to keep the numbers low. In the process, the territory and its people earned some Covid-19 dividends. It cannot squander the hard earned dividends. Instead, it needs to expend them strategically, tactically, safely, efficiently and effectively.
Moreover, the VI, along with its sister countries, has and is facing the most destabilizing event since WWII—-Covid-19. The Caribbean region is heavily dependent on travel and trade. COVID-19 has stopped leisure travel into the VI, resulting in significant unemployment in the tourism economic sector, 1/2 of economic twin pillars. Yes, people have to live and eat. However, it is a false economy to choose the economy over public health and safety. The economy and health must be coupled. Nonetheless, public health and safety must trump the economy. A precious life lost is gone forever; the economy will bounce back, though it may take time. True leadership comes to the fore during a crisis. Thus far,
Finally someone with common sense came out and be the voice for the people !
Was very selective with his words
And they was constructed in the right format
sam .henry always speak volume !
I think that the taxi drivers can use their brains to help themselves in difficult times like these. For instance, just my silly idea, run $1.50 or $2.00 bus trips from Town to east and west. You will make more than just sitting around all day feeling sorry for yourselves. Some can go to Sea Cows Bay for a $1.00. Do something. But opening now while infections in America are at an all time high will be pure madness.
You $%&^* moron, the Coronavirus is not the flu or a common cold. Have you heard in the height of flu season millions of people died globally? Have you been following what is happening around the world. Or take a look at what's happening in the USA. You can equate this deadly virus with the flu or common cold? You are thinking about making money , but you can't spend any money when you are dead. Honourable Fahie please don't give in to these people who are brain dead and have NO VISION.
Moreover, typically islands should not and can behave like islands. Nonetheless, being an island was an advantage in Islands like the VI protecting, containing and mitigating against the virus. Being an island allowed regional countries to shutter their borders. This action, along with other tough mitigating actions, manifested into low numbers. That was a blessing.
Without no strong treatment protocols nor cures nor vaccines, government’s action should be lauded for its actions in preventing contracting the disease, keeping the number of confirmed cases low. That said, testing must be ramped up to get a truer picture of the presence of the virus in the VI. Increased testing must be more than words and must manifest into action. Nevertheless, actions taken to avoid contracting the virus offer and has a critical value that is not often talked about. The health systems in developed countries, eg, US states like NY, FL, GA, TX, AZ......etc are struggling to manage spikes in numbers. Imagine how a major outbreak would rampage through the approximate 34,000 VI population. It should set off alarm bells just the mere thought of it.
Undoubtedly, the territory must reopen. However, reopening must be a delicate balancing act between public health and safety of the people and their ability to earn a living. It must be done smartly and safely.
Moreover, one of the most important role of government is to protect life and property. Covid-19 is a deadly disease that is posing a threat to the health, safety, well-being...... etc of VI residents and government has the responsibility and moral obligation to protect the citizenry, including who, how, when, why, and where people come into the territory. Thus far, government has been doing a good protecting the public with its strong mitigative actions. Must the territory be reopened?
Yes. But it cannot be reopened prematurely. It must learn from other jurisdictions that rushed to reopen and now has to fall back to previous conditions of closures, curfews, lockdowns, medical facilities approaching capacity and capability, slowed employment, risking permanent business closures.......etc. There is no book on managing Covid-19 so it is a management as you go situation.
My post is basically about the comments that just seem to be jumping all over civil servants because some people just figure that we are out here living it up. Yes. I am a civil servant and It just happens that I can still offer my services at this time a get paid for it. Yes ..... we realize that this opportunity can disappear. When and If it does, I and I’m sure others will keep on moving, living to the best of our ability and trusting in God. I just find the jabs at civil servants really uncalled for and shows a substantial level of bad mindedness. I’m gonna speak for myself and any Civil servant that May operate or think like me.
I find it distasteful that all of us are in the middle of a difficult period and once again the idea is to section out specific groups that people just figure may be doing well and just wishing and hoping that they do worst.
This is my position because as I read the post with the jabs I think about all of the lucrative areas of business I could have gone into but didn’t because I love what I do. I think of the many many areas I could have used my talents in that would have payed way bigger salaries .... but I remained in civil service. I even remember people telling me how stupid I was for being a civil servant , especially because of lower earnings, but I ignored them and has remained a civil servant for 30 odd years. When I entered the service I knew that my earning power would not be great, infact I knew that I would make way less than moving my abilities to the private sector but I made a decision to do what I love and to become as professional as I could in doing it. The way I see it, many of my colleagues and I stayed in the jobs that the same people that are throwing shade didn’t want or respect and now they catching feelings? I have watched certain areas of business flourish and produce mountains of money for others for years and years and never felt the need to say that they were unworthy. Some of these areas of commerce would have even been easy for me to get into and cut off my slices easily but I stuck with what I do. In other words I have watched people catch big breaks over and over and never wished failure, pain or extra struggle upon them just for me to benefit or feel better about myself. Also... I don’t consider this my “Big Break” I am still just a civil servant who happens to render services that are deemed necessary for now for the same chook chook salary I had before. All I’m sayin is let’s talk about the issues debate etc..... just remember.... civil servant keep this place running. Who do you think were on the front lines taking bigger risk in the lock down. It wasn’t only civil servants but a substantial percentage was there.
Basically.... leave the civil servant them alone. We have held down the jobs that many people out there didn’t want.
P.S....just to be clear ... I’m talking for all those civil servants that
Work hard
Give great customer service
Strive to be professional
Not backing those who....don’t subscribe to the above traits
Or those that ignore customers, take a bunch of personal phone calls and play candy land all
Though it has been mentioned tens of times in this blog, it is worth mention again.There are no reliable treatments, cures nor vaccines. The best course of action is prevention. A major outbreak of Covid-19 can be catastrophic, given the limited size of the health system. A major outbreak and resultant illness can manifest into a shortage of ICU beds that may turn into a triage situation. The VI has been lucky thus far.
No, it is not the common cold or flu. Every year there are flu and cold outbreaks yet we go about our daily lives with much normalcy. There are a number of treatments for the flu and cold, eg, over the counter, prescription, home remedies.......etc. However, there are limited treatments, if any, for Covid-19 and there are no cures nor vaccines.
Sometimes in life we say and do things either deliberately or inadvertently that live with us into eternity and beyond. In communication, we should embrace the Carpenter’s Rule, ie, measure twice and cut once. A ringed bell cannot be undone. I’m probably violating that rule now. Sam perhaps will live with this infamous and inaccurate statement for a long time. It will be as a ballast around his neck.
Many others have made the case as to why the territory should be reopened safely, cautiously and smartly. I endorses and echoes this position.
[Let’s lead like eagles, not careen off the cliff like buffaloes]