The US and the Absurdity of the Pandemic

Published in Milenio
(Mexico) on 14 January 2022
by Carlos Puig (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Lisa Carrington. Edited by Patricia Simoni.
This year, we’ve seen an increased number of people who, based on some superstition — and there are many, all laughable — refuse to get vaccinated. We have seen people in various countries who, at the beginning of the pandemic, said that the virus didn’t exist, that it was an invention for some unknown reason. This group of people declined in number when persons close to them, whom they had infected with their stupidity, started to die. We know that the highest-rated host on one American news network continues to insist that mandated mask wearing is a sign of authoritarianism, demonstrating that he has no idea what authoritarianism is from his position as a privileged white boy educated in the best academic institutions.

In a way few other places in the world have, the U.S. has shown how politicization of a health issue destroys lives.

Yesterday, the U.S. Supreme Court banned President Joe Biden’s government from mandating vaccination or COVID testing for large employers, putting a stop to a key element of the White House's plan to try to control the pandemic, while cases of omicron rise.

Not all countries could implement a similar measure due to the scarcity of vaccines, and now tests, throughout the world.

But in the U.S.? Thanks to its economic power, the country accumulated more vaccines than it could use in a long time. And although some days saw long lines for testing due to the demand, they still have tests.

But let’s get back to vaccines. In a country where anyone who wants to has access and could get vaccinated tomorrow, only 73% of the population between 18 and 65 has been vaccinated, and only 88% of the population over 65.

And now, faced with the most contagious version of the virus, the Supreme Court’s conservative bloc is stopping large employers from requesting vaccination or testing. Basically: Let infections continue, which have already overwhelmed hospitals in some regions of the country.

It’s the triumph of superstitious fools. Like the Serbian tennis player who deserved to be locked up.

But that’s how things go these days. Let’s keep getting vaccinated and taking care of ourselves.


Estados Unidos y el absurdo en la pandemia
Hemos visto en este año el crecimiento de aquellos que, basados en alguna superstición —hay de todas y muchas, todas risibles—, se niegan a vacunarse. Llegamos a ver en varios países del mundo a los que al principio de la pandemia decían que el virus no existía, sino que era un invento para quién sabe qué… Esos disminuyeron cuando se les empezaron a morir cercanos a los que habían contagiado con su estupidez. Sabemos que el conductor de mayor rating en un canal de noticias en Estados Unidos sigue insistiendo que la obligación de usar cubrebocas es una señal de autoritarismo, demostrando que no tiene idea lo que es el autoritarismo desde su sano privilegio de chico blanco formado en las mejores instituciones educativas.

Como en pocas partes del mundo, EU ha demostrado cómo la politización de un asunto de salud se vuelve un destructor de vida.

Ayer, la Suprema Corte de Justicia de EU impidió que el gobierno de Joseph Biden haga cumplir un mandato de vacuna o prueba anticovid para los grandes empleadores, terminando con un elemento clave del plan de la Casa Blanca para tratar de controlar la pandemia, al mismo tiempo que aumentan los casos resultantes de la variante ómicron.

No todos los países podrían tomar una medida similar dada la escasez de vacunas y, ahora, de pruebas en el mundo.

Pero ¿en Estados Unidos? El país acumuló gracias a su poderío económico más vacunas que las que podrían usar en mucho tiempo. Y aunque unos días hubo grandes colas para las pruebas por la demanda, siguen teniendo.

Pero volvamos a las vacunas. En un país en donde todo el que quiera tiene acceso y se podría vacunar mañana, solo 73 por ciento de la población entre 18 y 65 se ha vacunado; solo 88 por ciento de la población mayor de 65.

Y ahora, frente a la versión más contagiosa del virus, el bloque conservador de la Suprema Corte evita que los grandes empleadores puedan pedir vacuna o prueba. Total: que siga el contagio, que en algunas regiones de aquel país ya tiene a hospitales en crisis.

Es el triunfo de los supersticiosos imbéciles. Como el tenista serbio que mercería ser encarcelado.

Pero así andan las cosas en estos tiempos. Sigamos vacunándonos y cuidándonos.
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