Air Canada T.AC

COVID Science and Fear mongering

[Rouge10]

Now that few days have passed since the initial scare (spread by shorts) of new variant, some rational people have looked at it scientifically and put together a rational outlook. (https://www.bbc.com/news/health-55659820) Let’s evaluate the news so far.
 

1. Spread:
   1. Science:               It does spread faster than earlier variants.
   2. Fear mongering: World is coming to an end.
   3. Comments:          Only place where spread has been seen is South Africa (and neighbouring countries) with less than 24% vaccination rate. Of course any variant will spread if restrictions are removed early in low vaccination area.
2. Impact (serious illness):
   1. Science:                 We don’t know yet. Initial observations are that effects are milder than previous variants.
   2. Fear mongering: World is coming to an end.
   3. Comments:           Even flu spreads fasters. As of now, reducing flight connectivity to South Africa makes sense since country has low vaccination rates. Air Canada has minimal traffic from South Africa and that too via European hubs of Star Alliance interline connectivity. It can be easily stopped without impact. There are no Air Canada direct flights into Africa. Few people connect via FRA and LHR.
3. Vaccinations success:
   1. Science:               Most vaccination companies have clarified that current vaccination platform will provide some level of protection from new variant. Still, platform will be updated by January (Early 2022).
   2. Fear Mongering: World is coming to an end. Everyone will die.
   3. Comments:         Current safety restrictions in Canada are good support. And like I said earlier, Canada generally speaking, is more compliant than US and others. In worst case scenario, expect the updated platform to be ready for booster shots in early 2022. My assumption is that we will all be getting booster shorts for some time to come.
4. Air Canada
   1. Science:                 Stop flights from low vaccination rate countries for now.
   2. Fear Mongering: World is coming to an end. Ground the airline industry so that they can short it
   3. Comments:         Most of the Air Canada renewed network is limited to countries with high vaccination rates. Flights will continue

 
I like how this is being handled now. In 2020, there were no vaccinations. Now vaccinations are in our bodies. New variants will be tackled by annual shots. Not optimal but this is how life is going to be from now. We will be upgraded like MS Windows for some time.