As Britain and South Africa, struggle with the implications of an aggressively mutating covid-19 virus, UK lockdown for at least 6 weeks, to the middle of February, could spell even bigger trouble, for Caribbean tourism sectors; Some of which were starting to show signs of early recovery.
Economic pragmatism dictates that, Caribbean governments have really no choice, but to reopen their economies, while working with their populations to observe the strictest levels, of compliance with COVID safety protocols.
This “the second coming of the covid virus” demands competent calibration of the balance between: economic conservatism and fiscal liberalism. To that end, every effort must be made to halt the sustained decline of reserves at the level of the: individual, family, business and government. Unless sustained loss of reserve is achieved, the journey back from the proverbial bottom, will be: long, painful and frustrating; booby trapped with dangerous political minefields.
In the meantime, Caribbean governments must hope that the Johnson and Johnson vaccine (currently in stage 3 trials) has excellent efficacy. Clearly, a single dose option, for around US$10.00 (ten United States dollars) per dose, Johnson & Johnson, may hold the key to the region’s liberation from this marauding virus. From the look of things, mutations and all, it may be necessary to take an annual vaccination in order to sustain good levels of protection from the covid-19 virus and it’s various strains. In such a scenario, an affordable, single dose covid-19 vaccine is the best and most efficient option, assuming such a vaccine is: effective and safe.
Reference: Covid: New lockdowns for England and Scotland ahead of ‘hardest weeks’ https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-55538937
Walk good until next time
Arvel Grant
Political and Current Affairs Analyst.