Focus on protecting the elderly

I respectfully suggest that alternative views on dealing with COVID-19 be discussed seriously, such as a change in the approach on protecting the elderly, instead of attempting to protect the general population from infection.

The data on COVID-19 show an increasingly consistent trend: that the fatality rate is low, about 3 percent, and most of them are elderly with pre-existing conditions or diseases. For example, in the news article from CNN, “Data from China shows the majority of people with COVID-19 only suffer mild symptoms, then recover” (3/20/20), the fatality rate was 4 percent, while 87 percent had recovered. But one in 10 of infected people aged 70 years and above died.

I believe the approach of governments to protect everyone from infection such as through lockdowns is wrong. It is too costly in terms of jobs lost, wealth destroyed, businesses failing, and the economies being broken. I also believe the number of people who are sick from other diseases who are not being attended to adequately is quite high, because the health care systems are being overwhelmed by COVID-19.

We do not know how many people have died because of this situation. I believe they are higher than the fatalities from COVID-19 itself. There is also the possibility that the measures being taken by governments in different parts of the world will create social unrest, as many people lose jobs and other sources of livelihood. The cost of addressing the COVID-19 outbreak is way, way greater than the natural damage from the virus itself.

I suggest that the media start and promote this conversation on addressing COVID-19 by protecting the elderly. I believe this can be more effective since it will be more focused and targeted. Along with this alternative solution is the idea of terminating the lockdown and reopening businesses, public transport, and government agencies immediately. The nonelderly have so much higher tolerance to and expected recovery from the virus, with only mild symptoms during the infection. This way, we may avoid recession and financial crisis, and promote the well-being of all in a more effective way.

YSMAEL V. BAYSA
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