[bjeds]

The cat is already out of the bag and IMHO the only correct solution now is for all countries to do what they should have done in December already when the vaccinations started ramping up: complete lockdown with mandatory quarantine for all people travelling, with significant fines if people break it. Until a majority of the population in all countries are vaccinated.

I see only two viable outcomes. Either we do what I said above and accept a boring life for 3-9 months. Or Covid will continue to mutate and this will affect the world for years or longer, as vaccines need to be updated and populations need to be boosted with updated vaccines, whack-a-mole-style.

[rhino369]

We’ve only been able to eradicate a single virus in the entire history of man. And it took 100 years.

[UncleOxidant]

Totally agree. I see no reason why people think they have to take international flights at this point. Of course, if we had done what you're saying a year ago we wouldn't be in this mess.

[TheRealSteel]

You really can't think of any reason someone would have to take an international flight, ever?

What about their visa expiring, them not being in their home country, them not having infinite unlimited free money to support themselves indefinitely in a country they have no right to work in?

What about having a severely ill relative? Funerals? Weddings?

There are over 40,000 Australians stranded around the world alone, and our population isn't that large. I was one of them until today.

Alot of people say what you said, when they really mean "I don't PERSONALLY" need to take any international flights.

I agree with Covid-zero as a policy. I do not agree with leaving a person stranded and stateless, or unable to travel for legitimate and important reasons.

[titzer]

So you are saying that we sacrificed long-term consequences for short-term gains? When did that ever happen? /s

[mellavora]

And I assume you mean all countries. Globally. Even those where the government is, ahh, less effective.

And the vaccination is for all residents, including everyone in slums, shanty-towns, or some other form of less-well recognized housing. And irrespective of immigration status or availability of government-sanctioned ID documents,...

Not sure how we plan on quarantining the slums, though... It is hard enough for the US homeless population.

I have a strong background in public health, and am in general sympathetic to your position. I'd like to see good healthcare universally available, we (the human race) certainly can afford it, and it is hard for me to understand how we think we cannot afford it when you consider the potential costs of say avian influenza crossing to humans in some Cairo slum.

My point is only, and as you said, to remind us that this is a global problem. If we don't solve it for society's dispossessed, we haven't solved it.

[maxerickson]

We aren't on a course to make that many vaccines in the next 10 months, especially if whole countries are balking at the Astra-Zeneca vaccine.