“Excuse me, young man,” I asked the 23-year-old volunteer who got ready to steady his shaking hands, before opening an AstraZenica vial and insert a rather long-looking needle into my left arm. “You do know it’s my arm you’re jabbing?” And with what, I could have added? “Don’t worry,” he said. “Just a little prick.” […]
Health
Corona’s Cloud
As she lingers in our streets below, “R” less than “ONE,” more than “ZERO,” I hear her cry out loud, “I remain your darkest cloud.” She did not ask to find Man, But was disturbed in Wuhan. The delicate balance of nature, Ripped to threaten our future. “Do what?” I hear you ask, Your lips […]
Women Of Solicitude – Clapping Carers Is Nice, Rewarding Them Is Better
If the coronavirus pandemic has taught us one thing, it is to appreciate the true value of all the dedicated women nurses and carers, who are bearing the brunt of the viral attack, in a courageous attempt to save lives and protect those in need. These women do this every day, regardless of whether there […]
Mark Rutte Patronizes The Dutch Dental Profession
I’ll give Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte the benefit of the doubt. Here is a man under pressure because his entire liberal, easy-going vision of the world is being deep-frozen by a virus that’s even smaller than the smallest of viruses. In answer to a question on whether dentists could open their practices, Rutte patronizingly […]
Piangendo Per Te, Italia (Crying For You, Italy)
As Italy locks down a little more, it seems that the Italian people are being trapped in a pressure cooker that is about to explode. I try to think of other things by watching videos of old comedians, on YouTube, reminding me of when I was young. It isn’t nostalgia, but it makes me forget […]
Solidarity? No, It’s The Fear Of A Virus
It’s a scene from everyday life. I go to the tank station and pay at the till. The cashier is not wearing a face mask but both his hands are covered with black gloves that I presume to be disposable. He hands me the receipt and, without changing his gloves, attends to the next customer. […]
Macron’s COVID-19 Advisor Underestimated Pandemic
I watched last Wednesday’s French news bulletin with a quiet bewilderment that bordered on incomprehension. The head of the governmental scientific committee, and advisor to president Macron over the COVID-19 pandemic, publicly admitted that he (and others) had underestimated the severity of the coronavirus pandemic. Jean-François Delfraissy, immunologist and chairman of the coronavirus scientific committee, […]
The Coronavirus Pandemic And Individual Responsibility
It is strange that what many people decry in our societies – loneliness – will probably save us from flirting with partial extinction. In confining the whole population of France to two weeks of house arrest, Emmanuel Macron has used one of the ills of present-day society so that we can all continue living together. […]
COVID-19 And Herd Immunity – Thanks For Sharing!
If the rumours are true that Boris Johnson is seriously considering herd immunity to combat the coronavirus pandemic, let me give him a humble word of advice – don’t. During vaccination programs, the logic behind herd immunity is that if enough people are immune against a particular human-to-human transmissible infection, the rest of the population […]
Coronavirus – Ethics And Rationality In Decision-Making
Implementation of restrictions in various European countries has made me realise to what extent we all took things for granted. Gone are the days where we could eat out, go to the cinema, or visit a museum, without thinking twice about it. But the coronavirus outbreak has also cast a shadow over my dental practice. […]