Speaker 1: All right.
Last week, I interviewed Vincent Racaniello, virologist from Columbia University, and he
said it does make some sense that countries are starting to roll back COVID guidelines
and restrictions.
When you look at the U.K., when you look at Israel, when you look at other countries,
it makes some sense because as this Omicron wave goes down, it does seem like Macron is
significantly less deadly.
Doesn't mean everybody has only a cold.
But there are some reports that say the R Macron death rate is 0.2 percent.
That would put it at basically flu, which is zero point one five percent.
Vaccines widely available very good at preventing serious illness and death are Macron tailored
vaccine coming in a few months, if not after this wave than when is sort of the question
that is increasingly being asked.
Of course, bearing in mind, some people are going to need to be careful for a long time
because of specific health situations.
Denmark is now going back to normal.
Denmark will end most COVID restrictions and quote Welcome the life we knew before.
Denmark Prime Minister Medha Frederiksen announced yesterday that Denmark will throw out most
COVID pandemic restrictions that it placed, including masks.
Restrictions currently in place are for the public to wear masks on public transit in
restaurants, shops, health care facilities and retirement homes.
However, following the Feb. one change of restrictions, which is Tuesday, masks will
only be required in hospitals, health care facilities and elderly homes.
We say goodbye to the restrictions and welcome the life we knew before, Frederiksen said.
As of February 1st, Denmark will be open, according to Health Minister Magnus Handke.
Denmark's recent cases of COVID were more than 46000 daily on average.
However, only 40 people are in hospital intensive care units.
We continue with a strong epidemic surveillance, then we can react quickly if necessary.
Despite lift of restrictions, Frederiksen warned there could be a rise in infections,
which may lead to a fourth vaccination shot being necessary, which other countries have
found doesn't actually make sense.
So there are certainly controversies here, but this is a question many countries are
going to be faced with.
I don't pretend to know the answer.
One aspect of this that many doctors are pointing to is if not after this wave, than when.
Because if this wave moves us to the endemic phase where it takes on more of a flu like
seasonal trajectory with a lower death rate, this secondary R Macron variant that now is
being looked at, which may be even more contagious but even mild there, although we don't yet
know for sure, would push us even closer to flu slash cold.
What do you wait for?
Is the question, and it's not for me about are we now at no risk?
It's what milestone would we we be waiting for if indeed, that's the trajectory, so I'm
not pretending to know what needs to happen, but I am asking what would be the milestones
if not in another six weeks as the cases continue to decline rapidly, if they do.
In many states, Massachusetts, for example, cases are already down more than 50 percent
and declining very rapidly.
Nationally, they're declining a little less quickly.
Globally, they're basically flat right now.
Globally, we're now at the peak rather than beyond it.
So more and more countries going in this direction doesn't seem the U.S. is close to it.
I think masks on planes and public transit will be around for a while, but there may
be changes coming.
I'm curious to hear from you what direction you think it needs to go.
You can find me on Twitter at David Pakman and we'll be back right after this short break.
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