Coronavirus: Coda

 Now that the number of coronavirus cases worldwide seems to be in sustained decline, one may make some final observations:

1. Lockdowns did little to affect the spread of the virus or the final numbers of those infected. If one looked at the profiles of the number of daily new cases from various jurisdictions, it is impossible to tell which resorted to strict social-control policies such as business closings, mask requirements, school closings, etc. The biology of the virus, and its interaction with local environments had much more effect on the spread of the virus than did "public health measures."

2. The virus most likely was the result of a laboratory accident.

3. The scientific community and "experts" were practically useless. The early politicization of the corona virus response meant that a prime, and rare opportunity to understand the nature of viral pandemics, but the expert class was too self-interested, venal and short-sighted to take advantage of it. History will not be kind to them.

4. We don't know nearly what we pretend to about herd immunity, infection vectors, environmental factors or disease modeling. 

5. Much of the angst and panic regarding the pandemic response was the result of reactions to a news report describing how Italian physicians had to triage patients and decide which patients who needed ventilatory support would not get it. 

6. The China and Russia vaccines are not very effective, but probably better than nothing. The mRNA vaccines are generally safe, with somewhat less than advertised efficacy, but have the real but rare side effects of myocarditis and inner ear inflammation leading to tinnitus and occasionally deafness.