A book club discussion about acupuncture got a little out-of-hand this week. I reacted to people using their single personal experience of acupuncture working as proof of its efficacy. Along with the government funding acupuncture treatments being proof – since when has everything governments support been guaranteed to be efficacious?
The COVID-19 ride feels like a roller coaster. Up the Alert levels, down the alert levels… An up this week is the news of a saliva-based test for COVID-19 while a down was the first proven reinfection of a person.
There are over 200 vaccines for COVID-19 being worked on – up from 70 in April and 120 in June. Seven vaccines are already in Phase 3 clinical trials (the last step before release) and another three are planned for June. Many of these trials are taking place in countries with poor health care systems and little money. Should we be concerned?
What are we trying to ‘save’ in the COVID-19 world – I say humanity, as well as humans (and the economy).
Back around a loop to higher level alerts. We are saving people, or our economy, or both. Maybe. How do things compare in Sweden, where they have taken the distancing rather than the lockdown approach?
Here we go back down the COVID Alert Levels because New Zealand has community transmission of the virus, after 102 days without any. Everyone has been getting more relaxed given the lack of cases in the community. Let’s hope our early action means we don’t go back into a lockdown like we’ve watched in Melbourne.
I like contrasts, such as the difference between our isolated property in Gibbston, Central Otago and in Redcliffs village by the sea in Christchurch. I’m going to really miss travelling in COVID times because I love the learning one finds in countries when you don’t speak the language but discover you can communicate across the divides. I will have to change the scale of contrast I’m seeking.
Are we nearly there yet? A phrase redolent of childhood car journeys, the Canterbury earthquakes, and now the COVID-world.
As an adult, it’s so easy to get thrown back into the feeling of being a child again. Feeling like there are other people who know more than you, have more than you, are better than you. But, if there’s no bus driver, feeling grown-up or not you still need to step in and drive the bus.
